U.S.-China Joint Statement expresses concerns and need for inter-Korean dialogue

Posted on : 2011-01-21 14:28 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
The statement placed more pressure on N.Korea and S.Korea to move towards resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula
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Yi Yong-in, Staff Writer 

The joint statement regarding the Korean Peninsula released by the United States and China following the summit meeting Wednesday (local time) between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in short was an agreement on the course of resuming dialogue and more searching for concrete solutions. In particular, with the statement playing up the role of North Korea and South Korea in the hunt for a solution, analysts say the pressure and burden of responsibility on the two countries has correspondingly grown.

To begin with, an analysis of the structure of the “U.S.-China Joint Statement” shows an eclectic reflection of U.S. and Chinese views in each sentence. For instance, with regard to the issue of “maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” the two countries expressed “concern over heightened tensions on the Peninsula,” while at the same time leaving the question of responsibility for the tensions less explicit with the expression “triggered by recent developments.” However, Obama added at a joint press conference that the two leaders “agreed that North Korea must avoid further provocations,” plainly stating the responsibility had been presented unclearly in the Joint Statement.

The U.S. position on North Korea’s uranium enrichment program (UEP) was also strongly reflected in the phrase “expressed concern,” while the Chinese position of withholding judgment about the facts was also taken into account through the attachment of the qualifier “the DPRK’s claimed” before the words “uranium enrichment program.” The statement also showed maximal consideration for the Chinese position by articulating the need to resume the six-party talks process to resolve the UEP issue and other matters, while also showing consideration of the U.S. position emphasizing the need for genuine steps toward denuclearization by North Korea.

Despite the compromises between the two countries, a between-the-lines reading hints strongly at the need to shift the overall political situation on the Korean Peninsula toward negotiations through stating, “The United States and China emphasized the importance of an improvement in North-South relations and agreed that sincere and constructive inter-Korean dialogue is an essential step.”

The statement also highlighted the need for reduced tensions on the peninsula and the importance of denuclearization, through calling for full implementation of commitments made in the Sept. 19 Joint Statement of 2005.

Incidentally, the fact that Obama highlighted the threat of North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in his remarks at the joint press conference could be interpreted as emphasizing the need for dialogue.

Analysts predict that in order to achieve this, the two countries will start work on establishing follow-up measures based on their discussions. A division of labor between the United States and China may arise in which the United States calls upon South Korea to relax its conditions for resuming dialogue, while China demands a halt to further provocations and at least minimal measures toward denuclearization from North Korea.

A number of hurdles remain. To begin with, the possibility remains that the United States, which has been emphasizing an international response to North Korea’s UEP, may submit the matter for renewed discussions at the United Nations Security Council.

Political science expert Jang Yong-seok said, “North Korea, which has been claiming its UEP is for peaceful use, is unlikely to just lie down if the prospects for dialogue are not certain.”

Additionally, another key factor may be the intransigent position of the Lee Myung-bak administration, which has argued that inter-Korean relations must improve before the six-party talks can resume.

  

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