hankyoreh

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s visit to China, which marked five days yesterday, could be interpreted as “North Korea-China closeness.” That visit was indicative of how close North Korea and China appear to have become since the 1990s.

The fact that Kim’s visit focused on China’s Northeastern Provinces, unlike previous visits, has several meanings. First, the visit clearly illustrates the general direction set by the two nations in May’s North Korea-China summit. By visiting major cities that fall under China’s northeastern revitalization strategy, such as Changchun, Jilin and Harbin, Kim has made clear his intention to link the development of North Korea to the development of China’s Northeast Provinces. He also visited historical sites in northeastern China linked to Kim Il-sung’s anti-Japanese struggle.

This is interpreted as an attempt to invest legitimacy in the succession system ahead of the Workers Party of Korea meeting of party representatives. It is also unusual that the Chinese leadership would come all the way to the Northeast region to meet with Kim. This could be seen as an effort to display Chinese solidarity with North Korea to those within and outside the country .

Second, it is very possible the closeness between North Korea and China will have a positive effect on current efforts to restart the six-party talks. As host nation of the talks, China has a good opportunity to use its influence on North Korea, while North Korea, which hopes for economic cooperation and regime stability, has no choice but to cooperate with China.

There are reports that the United States has also begun considering a new approach to North Korea. The United States knows it cannot move North Korea through pressure alone and has judged that dialogue needs to be opened. To converge these actions together and lead the restart of the six-party talks demands the South Korean government take a leading role. If we examine past precedent, only when South Korea actively negotiated with participating states through an appropriate mediation plan did we see any progress.

If North Korea begins to show signs of excessive reliance upon China, however, it would not be good for the situation on the Korean Peninsula. If economic and security cooperation between the two countries deepens, the structure of confrontation now exhibiting itself between South Korea, the United States and Japan on one side and North Korea and China on the other could produce new tensions.

As we see in the confrontation between the United States and China following the sinking of the Cheonan, it is a structure in which North Korea and South Korea could easily become the biggest victims. To change this situation, we must first improve the inter-Korean relations. Moreover, only through a positive state of inter-Korean relations can a complete solution to the nuclear issue and discussions about a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia become possible.

The tightening relations between North Korea and China is also the product of the hardline policies implemented by South Korea and the United States. Now the burden on South Korea’s shoulders has grown heavier. To stabilize the situation on the Korean Peninsula and resolve the nuclear issue, our government must change.

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