hankyoreh

Aug 20. On his chest rests a blanket that had remained with him during his last moments

North Korea has informed South Korea that it will completely lift restrictions on cross-border traffic and stay in North Korean territory on Friday. The bans have been in place since Dec 1.

In particular, North Korea announced that it will normalize operations of the Office for the Economic Cooperation of South-North Korea, which it had closed down on Dec 1, and will restart rail service between the two Koreas.

Officials from the South Korean Ministry of Unification said, “North Korea sent a message via fax today in the name of the military officer responsible for the East and West Sea district.” After sending the message to the Unification Ministry, North Korea sent an additional message via fax to the Kaesong Industrial District Management Committee (KIDMAC). The message outlined its four proposed actions, including the normalization of operations of its National Economic Cooperation Federation.

The announcement signals the complete lifting of all restrictions that Pyongyang had imposed in December in protest of Seoul’s hardline policy toward North Korea.

Analysts suggest this move results from the joint press release announced by North Korea’s Asia Pacific Peace Commission and Hyundai Group on Aug 17. Some are saying it is extraordinary that North Korea lifted the ban on cross-border traffic when South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command announced it would take the Ulji Freedom Guardian military exercise that North Korea referred to as ‘a war exercise for invading North Korea’.

Meanwhile, a South Korean official is dismissing the significance of these messages and says, “The unusual situation, which was caused by North Korea’s unilateral actions, has just been normalized.”

The official has also confirmed that South Korea and North Korea agreed to reopen the telephone line between the two Koreas’ Red Cross offices located in Panmunjom as of 9:00 a.m. Friday. The official said, “North Korea asked us to reopen it and said ‘it is necessary for the offices to be in communication with each other in order for Pyongyang to prepare for the mourning delegation’s visit for late South Korean former President Kim Dae-jung.” He also said, “I am not sure that the direct telephone line will be remain open after the delegation’s return.”

Nonetheless, analysts see the announcement as the latest in a series of recent conciliatory gestures from Pyongyang. This move includes not only the normalization of cross-border traffic, but also the restoration of a channel of communication for the two Koreas. It is being read as a sign that North Korea has changed its foreign policy strategy towards improving relations with the U.S. and South Korea.

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