hankyoreh

former Minister of Unification

In response to North Korea's sixth nuclear test, the international community is increasing pressure on Pyongyang and tightening sanctions. On September 14, a group of President Moon Jae-in's advisers on unification and foreign policy shared their views on solutions to the North Korean nuclear issue. They pointed out that far from leading to a resolution of the problem, the current tough policy would only push the North to work even harder on nuclear and missile development. They proposed a "dual freeze" solution first put forth by China, whereby the North would stop its nuclear and missile programs and South Korea and the United States would stop conducting their joint military exercises.

Moon Chung-in, professor emeritus at Yonsei University and President Moon Jae-in's special adviser on unification and foreign policy, spoke about solutions to the North Korean nuclear threat during a meeting held on the morning of the 14th at the National Assembly under the auspices of the Assembly's Korean Peninsula Peace Forum.

“We have to acknowledge the limitations of sanctions and other types of pressure,” said Moon. “We need to approach the problem by starting out with freezing nuclear development and putting denuclearization as the final goal.”

Pointing out that this was his personal opinion as a scholar, he added, “We have to admit that the North is a nuclear power. Freezing nuclear development may work as a prerequisite to dialogue, but it is unrealistic to require denuclearization before we sit down and talk. China's “dual freeze” would be hard to implement, but we need to look into the possibility that reducing the scale of the South Korea–U.S. joint exercises in exchange for a North Korean freeze on nuclear development would work.” Prof. Moon presented this view in Washington, D.C. in June, for which he was fiercely attacked by conservatives.

Moon's "dual freeze" approach to the issue of North Korea's nuclear program was a key part of his campaign's diplomacy and national security proposals during the presidential election campaign. It was also the preferred solution for Russia and China, two nations who serve as key partners in the North Korean nuclear issue. At the Assembly, Professor Moon Chung-in also called for a security conference of the six nations who were party to the Six Party Talks, and for a system of regular Six-Party summits.

Jeong Se-hyun

Meanwhile, Jeong Se-hyun, the former Minister of Unification who had viciously criticized the Moon administration's hardline stance on North Korea just a week before, spoke at a seminar hosted by the National Assembly Research Service on "Korea-China-Japan Cooperation toward the Denuclearization of North Korea and the Role of the National Assembly." He said that the solution for North Korea's nuclear problem was simple, something that "North Korea has tenaciously pursued" and that "the US has promised without delivering," namely, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea.

Jeong pointed out that North Korea suspended its nuclear program during past summit discussions, and advised that "South Korea step up to the plate and facilitate the dialogue between the US and North Korea." Jeong criticized Lee Myung-bak administration's policy of prioritizing North Korea’s denuclearization, instead emphasizing the importance of dialogue above anything else.

Also in attendance at the seminar was Professor Jin Jingyi of Peking University, who said during his presentation that the North Korean government "has displayed a reactionary phenomenon of strengthening internal cohesiveness in times of increasing external pressure," adding that "even if sanctions suspend shipments of Chinese crude oil, it is unlikely that North Korea will give in [to international pressure.]"

Professor Jin offered the example of China and Taiwan, who have stitched up geopolitical wounds by following the Chinese proverb of "focusing on scenery first, emotions second." In other words, he advocated inducing North Korea to focus on its economy rather than on its nuclear program.

By Kim Ji-eun and Um Ji-won, staff reporters

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