hankyoreh

The South Korean government is apparently looking at holding comprehensive talks with North Korea on a number of issues, including a possible lifting of the May 24 Measures imposed in the wake of the 2010 ROKS Cheonan sinking. This is a positive step, in that it signals Seoul’s commitment to improving ties with Pyongyang. Hopefully, it can come up with an effective plan for putting that into practice with a consistent focus on improving inter-Korean relations.

A high-level government official also said on Dec. 5, “If there is something we [Seoul] can give North Korea to make this a reality, we will give it serious consideration.” This is more flexible than we’ve seen in the past from the Park Geun-hye administration, which has insisted on treating the issue - more part of the South Korean agenda than anything - separately from all others. The same official also talked about how “we need to talk about not only what we want but also what North Korea wants” if the talks happen. This is also a step in the right direction, since it suggests Seoul won’t be trying to duck the issues Pyongyang raises. Improving ties will be a tall order so long as the May 24 Measures remain in place.

It looks as though Seoul has started to conclude that it can’t afford to keep inter-Korean relations in the state they‘re in now. It’s rather late in the game, but it’s the right call. The Park Geun-hye administration will find it a lot more difficult to improve things if the strain with Pyongyang stretches on into the third year of its term in 2015. All the ideas that Park has presented - the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process, the Eurasia Initiative, the “unification as jackpot” scenario - will end up just talk and no substance. It will also get that much harder to turn things around with the North Korean nuclear issue, which has only gotten worse over time. It’s a crucial moment in many ways for taking proactive steps to improve ties.

What isn’t clear, though, is whether everyone in the administration shares the commitment to doing that. In particular, there’s no sign of any change from the National Security Council or Blue House Office of National Security, which have micromanaged every aspect of inter-Korean relations with an eye toward pressuring Pyongyang. Seoul is going to need to dispense quickly with the confusion and seat-of-the-pants approach that have characterized its North Korea policy to date. The contradictions of its attitude toward inter-Korean relations have already become apparent - one need only look at the recent example of South Korean businesses taking part in the Rajin-Hasan pilot project, which runs completely counter to the May 24 Measures.

The biggest question, though, is how Park herself approaches it. The current inertia is destined to continue unless she shows a consistent commitment to improving ties with Pyongyang. Hopefully, we can look forward to a new attitude and a new framework on inter-Korean relations from the administration. It says in the “Book of Changes” that “the superior man produces his changes as the leopard does when he changes his spots.” When you have faults, the best thing is to fix them.

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