hankyoreh

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the morning of Jan. 1 that a fireworks display was held in Pyongyang at midnight on Dec. 31 to greet the New Year. ( Pyongyang/KCNA

In his New Year’s address on Jan. 1, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un voiced his willingness to send a delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and to hold inter-Korean talks to achieve that end. In regard to the US, on the other hand, Kim threatened that “a nuclear button is always on the desk of my office.” It’s possible to conclude that, while Kim remains provocative on nuclear matters, his speech was forward-looking overall and contained concrete proposals. We welcome the fact that North Korea strongly hinted at its willingness to improve inter-Korean relations in the New Year. The South Korean government must make the most of this opportunity to bring about the genuine improvement of inter-Korean relations and the easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

To be sure, Kim has not budged an inch from his previous reckless and hardline stance on the development of nuclear weapons and missiles. He claimed “the accomplishment of the historic cause of rounding off the state nuclear force.” He also threatened both the US and the entire world with his remark that “the whole territory of the US is within the range of our nuclear strike and a nuclear button is always on the desk of my office and this is just a reality, not a threat.” This shows that Kim does not intend to abandon the development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). But Kim must understand that this cannot ultimately guarantee the safety of the North Korean regime. Even now, we hope that he will recognize the harsh reality that nuclear weapons development will not bring about “a powerful socialist nation” or a “happy life” for its people.

While Kim did not halt his nuclear threats, the fact that he hinted at his willingness to improve inter-Korean relations by having North Koreans attend the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics was a positive sign. Some parts of South Korea’s conservative establishment, including the Liberty Korea Party, are apparently denigrating this as a scheme aimed at sowing division between South Korea and the US and weakening their alliance. But even if that is Pyongyang’s intention, it’s critical for South Korea to welcome this proposal and treat it as an opportunity not only for improving inter-Korean relations but also for finding a way to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. In the end, the North Korean nuclear and missile issues can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, not through conflict. That will require an effort to widen the scope for dialogue with the North while holding to the principle of denuclearization. More important than scrutinizing North Korea’s motivations is having the confidence to bring about a change in North Korea’s attitude and to take advantage of that change.

We should avoid unnecessary conflict through preliminary deliberations with the Trump administration. North Korea’s adoption of a proactive attitude on participating in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and a stern stance toward the US must be seen as a desire to use inter-Korean dialogue as a key to open the door to dialogue with the hardline Trump administration. The US has no reason to oppose improved inter-Korean relations being used to open the door to North Korea-US negotiations aimed at resolving the nuclear issue. Indeed, it should support such an initiative, which lines up with the values of a true alliance.

Now that North Korea has hinted at a meeting between officials to discuss the North’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the South Korean government must strive for working-level deliberations to swiftly take place. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has already said he has asked the US to delay the two countries’ joint military exercises that are scheduled to take place during the Olympics. Seoul and Washington need to quickly coordinate their views to create conditions conducive to the attendance of a North Korean delegation. This is the role that Seoul can play in making progress in inter-Korean relations, easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and laying the foundation for denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea. This also corresponds with Moon’s ambition for South Korea to take the driver’s seat on the Korean Peninsula.

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