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Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho (from the left), Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party, and Kim Tae-nyeon, Democratic Party floor leader, during a partake in a National Security meeting on diplomacy, natural security, and unification on June 18. (Kim Gyoung-ho, staff photographer)

The sudden deterioration of inter-Korean relations has prompted politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties as well as former senior government officials to call for the replacement of top foreign policy and security figures. Some figures in the ruling Democratic Party and in civil society have even said that overcoming the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula will require the appointment of figures who will push aggressively for inter-Korean cooperation without worrying about what the US might think. In contrast, the opposition United Future Party (UFP), which considers South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s North Korean policy a failure, is pushing not only for the replacement of the foreign policy and security figures who have taken a conciliatory approach to North Korea but also for a complete overhaul of North Korean policy.

The fact is that there is curiosity in the South Korean public about what exactly these powerful diplomats and security figures did to bring inter-Korean relations to such a state. Those officials’ mistakes were reportedly brought up during a meeting between Moon and venerable figures in the unification and foreign policy establishments on June 17.

It’s necessary, of course, to probe the mistakes of the current officials and to hold them accountable for those mistakes. But as inter-Korean tensions continue to rise, with the North Korean general staff promising four military actions, it’s doubtful whether this is the right time to reshuffle the foreign policy and security teams. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul has already announced his intention to resign, which means that his position will remain vacant while hearings are being held for his replacement in the National Assembly. That would also apply to all other cabinet ministers, including the director of the National Intelligence Service (but not the director of the National Security Office, a presidential aide at the Blue House).

As we see it, our current priority should be focusing all our energy on dealing with the crisis. The South Korean military reportedly picked up signs on June 18 that North Korean troops on the border had entered some previously empty reconnaissance posts near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). It’s never too late to hold officials responsible. What’s more urgent is dispassionately reviewing inter-Korean relations and North Korea-US relations since talks ruptured in the North Korea-US summit in Hanoi and quickly taking action to repair any mistakes made by the foreign policy and security teams.

We also need to take this opportunity to improve the operation of the South Korea-US Working Group. The working group, which was set up in November 2018 to aid cooperation between the two countries, has long been criticized for blocking the South Korean government from playing an active role in inter-Korean relations. Such criticism has been made by former Blue House Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok and by Yun Kun-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker who participated in the inter-Korean summit and a special delegation to North Korea.

In that sense, it’s notable that Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs with South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Washington on June 18. Separately from criticizing North Korea, it’s time to look into improving the South Korea-US Working Group in order to bring about a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations.

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