hankyoreh

Having gone from bad to worse since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak, inter-Korean relations stand at yet another crucial crossroads.

On April 16, North Korea invited South Korea to Kaesong (Gaesong), the industrial complex in North Korea’s border city, for a meeting with officials on April 21. Immediately after the Hankyoreh exclusively reported the invitation, President Lee presided over an emergency Seoul government meeting on April 18 in which the government decided to delay announcing the nation‘s participation in an U.S.-led anti-proliferation campaign. South Korea was initially scheduled to announce its decision to fully participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) on April 19. North Korea has repeatedly claimed that it would interpret South Korea’s PSI participation as a “declaration of a war.” Lee‘s government has said that it will send a delegation of around 10 officials headed by Kim Young-tak, director general of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Project Bureau under the Unification Ministry.

Experts say that the content of North Korea’s announcement and South Korea‘s decision on PSI participation expressed during the meeting will set the tone for inter-Korean relations down the road. They speculate if North Korea notifies South Korea of a reduction or complete blockage of workers permitted to work in the industrial complex,　and South Korea goes ahead with its decision to participate in PSI, already deteriorating inter-Korean relations might worsen.

According to the Seoul government, the April 21 meeting would be the first inter-Korean government-level meeting held this year. However, it is difficult to refer to this as a proposal for talks just because South Korea has agreed to send delegates to hear what North Korea has to say. A former high-ranking government official has said on the matter, “North Korea may try to pass the buck to South Korea for shutting down Kaesong industrial park activities.”

Before North Korea’s invitation,　South Korea had already indicated a delay, from April 15 to April 19, in its announcement regarding full participation in PSI.

Following North Korea‘s invitation to meet, it has decided to delay the announcement again to April 21. Although Seoul says that the PSI issue has nothing to do with North Korea, it has become a “hot potato” for the government. If Seoul delays the announcement on PSI again, it will draw criticism from conservatives for being swayed by North Korea. If the government proceeds with the announcement, it could lead to the shutdown of the Kaesong complex or cause a hard line response from North Korea that may result in military provocations. If these cases materialize, Seoul will have to take full responsibility.

A high-ranking former government official says, “The government unnecessarily put itself into a quagmire by bringing out the PSI card. Given that a dialogue is essential to put the inter-Korean relations in order, the government will have to readjust its North Korea polices.”

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