hankyoreh

News of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s observation of joint training by the North Korean army, navy and air force appeared in the North Korean media yesterday, the first time this has happened since Kim took over command of the military in the early 1990s. This was a hardline move coming on the heals of a National Defense Commission (NDC) hardline statement on Jan. 15 that promised a holy war of retribution against South Korea.

It still difficult to ascertain North Korea’s intentions. Initially, it appeared to be nothing more than a warning against the South Korean government’s hardline policy, a contingency plan reported on by a South Korean media outlet, to deal with a sudden change in North Korea. In fact, if North Korea misinterprets the reports, there is room for them to make the leap that Seoul is actively pushing for the collapse of the North Korean regime. Even if that fact is taken into consideration, however, North Korea’s current attitude shows a stark contrast to the previous moves it had been making up to now seeking the improvement of inter-Korean relations. If, however, North Korea is intentionally trying to ratchet up tensions in accordance with its tactical needs, it is a misguided decision.

The Lee Myung-bak administration’s passive attitude is also problematic. The administration has simply called the reports on the contingency plans unconfirmed, but it is not trying to soothe North Korea’s concerns. Most government officials are reacting with statements such as, “There is no need to respond to everything” or “Let us wait and see.” They are simply leaving things as they are, even though things could grow worse. It is also an attitude that seems indifferent towards the improvement of inter-Korean relations.

In this situation, it has been uncovered that the government has set aside several billion Won to produce and air broadcast material in preparation for a North Korean collapse and South Korean-led unification via absorption. This is something that could be called the beginning of a propaganda war for unification via absorption to be aimed at North Korean citizens. This is an attack on North Korea on a different level from contingency plans for an emergency in North Korea. From North Korea’s prospective, it could be seen as Seoul putting the focus of its North Korea policy on a North Korean collapse. If the Lee administration is to escape from these suspicions, it must abandon the plan to produce the broadcast materials itself.

In consideration of how the division effects every facet of the lives of Koreans, the Lee administration’s attitude of taking inter-Korean ties lightly cannot be viewed as justified for any reason. We hope the Lee administration uses the current uncertain situation to its advantage to completely reconsider its North Korea policy and seek stable inter-Korean ties before it is too late. It must also immediately prepare a path with North Korea that can prevent a sudden change from ever occuring.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]