hankyoreh

South Korean soldiers look at the salvaged warship where it is exhibited at the yard of the Second Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek

Mar. 26 is the fifth anniversary of the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan warship. This tragic incident - which snuffed out the lives of 46 sailors - had major ramifications.

However, we cannot simply keep saying the same things forever. Now is the time to build a relationship with North Korea that will minimize the trauma of the past and move toward a peaceful future.

However it may have happened, the sinking of the Cheonan was an incident that underscored the incompetence of the administration of the time in regard to security. After the sinking, that administration promised sweeping reforms of the military, but hardly any of those reforms have been implemented properly.

Instead, all kinds of corruption in the defense industry have come to light, and there have been frequent sex scandals and shootings. In the navy, for example, two former chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were arrested in connection with defense procurements.

This security incompetence continues to plague us in the present. The conservatives who control the government continue trying to play up security fears for their political advantage. One such attempt was when Saenuri Party (NFP) leader Kim Moo-sung said on Mar. 24 that North Korea should be regarded as a “nuclear power,” which even he admitted was a “controversial remark.” The same goes for the recent heavy use of red baiting by the ruling party.

As South Korea’s military budget increased after the sinking of the Cheonan, it became more dependent on the US for its security. Amid this sharp conflict, the issue of North Korea’s nuclear weapons became more severe, and the fault lines dividing the larger Northeast Asia region have become clearer. If we fail to reverse these trends, we could see another incident like the sinking of the Cheonan.

Change begins with improving inter-Korean relations. As quickly as possible, we must resume dialogue with North Korea, putting all issues on the table for discussion. This will require a bold decision about the key issues - the May 24 Measures (sanctions halting inter-Korean trade and exchange implemented after the Cheonan sinking) and propaganda leaflets launched by balloon into North Korea.

The May 24 Measures have already proven to be an impediment not only for North Korea but also for South Korean companies. It is absurd to talk about unification while preventing the two sides from increasing cooperation and exchange. There is also something abnormal about the government allowing the few small groups who launch leaflets into North Korea to undermine inter-Korean relations as a whole.

North Korea needs to adjust its hostile attitude. Setting aside the North Korean authorities’ refusal to take responsibility for the sinking of the Cheonan, it was foolish of them to reject the very idea of holding talks about revoking the May 24 measures.

Whatever form it may take, a meeting of North and South Korean authorities is indispensable if we are to move beyond the Cheonan incident. Even if no complete resolution is found for the disagreement between the two sides about who was behind the sinking, we need a process by which we can restore some degree of trust.

Allowing the present situation to continue is not in the interests of South or North Korea. It is also obvious that as long as North and South only focus on their disagreements, no constructive framework can be built. If we are to move beyond our injuries and build a new relationship, the South Korean government will need to play a leading role.

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