hankyoreh

D-Mass.

By Kwon Tae-ho

U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Tuesday (local time) that high-level dialogue is needed for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

At a special address for a Korean peace and security forum seminar at the U.S. Congress, Kerry’s statement called on President Barack Obama to pursue a “peaceful, negotiated solution to the underlying security challenges that have kept the Korean Peninsula locked in a Cold War for far too long.” In order to do this, Kerry said it was more important than ever to look for a way to restart dialogue at an early date.

The fact that Kerry, who also issued a statement blasting North Korea in late May right after the announcement of the Cheonan investigation results, has called on the Obama administration to hold talks with North Korea is worthy of attention. It has been interpreted as leaving open the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, even while presuming that North Korea sank the Cheonan.

Kerry also indirectly criticized the North Korea policy of the Obama administration, saying the administration’s North Korea policy of “strategic patience” must not become “strategic indifference,” and that a policy of continuous diplomatic engagement was the best way to persuade North Korea. He said the decision to denuclearize has to be made by North Korea itself, and that the United States could not force it to change policy to see the world as Washington sees it.

Kerry quoted former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry, saying the United States must treat North Korea as it is, not as how the United States would like it to be. In order to improve its relationship with the United States, Kerry proposed that Pyongyang free U.S. national Aijalon Mahli Gomes, now held captive in North Korea.

The Korea Peace Institute’s Peace and Security Forum, attended by figures from progressive South Korean civic organizations, invited Kerry to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula. The forum was held for the first time last year, with this year marking its second meeting. Participants from South Korea included, Kim Sang-geun, chairman of the South Korean Committee for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration, Chung Hyun-back, history professor of SungKyunKwan University and Kim Yeon-cheol, head of the Hankyoreh Peace Institute. Participants from the United States included Rep. Eni F. H. Faleomavaega, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia, Pacific, and the Global Environment, Frank Jannuzi, senior East Asia specialist for the minority staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Scott Snyder, head of the Asia Foundation’s Center for U.S.-Korea Policy. Kerry did not attend the forum, and his speech was read by Jannuzi.

Meanwhile, Kim and Chung met with U.S. six party talks special envoy Sung Kim and Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, at the U.S. State Department to press for a quick restart of the six-party talks and a switch in U.S. North Korea policy. In response, Kim reportedly said the U.S. was applying sanctions, but it had the intention to restart the six-party talks or denuclearization talks if North Korea shows a changed position.

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