Gestures of Reconciliation
As North Korea is showing hope for the reconciliation of inter-Korean relations, it is becoming noticeable whether the infarction between North and South Koreas might ease in the new year which meets the 70th anniversary of the independence and the division.
North Korean expectations are being revealed through remarks made by Kim Yang-Gon, North Korean Secretary of United Front Department and Secretary in Charge of South Korean Affairs, who is empowered with general direction over South Korean polices of North Korea.
Former South Korean culture minister Kim Sung-Jae told that secretary Kim showed the response that they “understand” the “sincerity” expressed by the Park Geun-Hye administration in regards to remediating the inter Korean relations, during their meeting held in Kaesong on Dec.24.
The posture is quite different from the reprimanding attitudes maintained by North Korea so far against South Korean government’s northern policies, such as the idea of “unification as a Jackpot,” the Dresden initiative and the trust-building process on Korean peninsula, which were regarded by North Korea to be schemes of regime confrontation aimed towards absorbing unification.
Remarkable is that secretary Kim did not directly mention on discontinuing scattering leaflets into North Korea, the issue which North Korea claimed as a prerequisite to begin conversation. North Korea refused to participate in the second North-South executive contact with pretexts regarding leaflet scattering into their territories.
It is also worth noticing that secretary Kim said, “We would like to seek opportunities from issues such as Kumgangsan tour, the 5·24 sanctions and reunion of the separated families, which could turn a small alley into a broad pathway of understanding.”
While the issue of restarting Kumgangsan tour or lifting the 5·24 sanctions always has been demanded by North Korea, the reunion of separated families is the top priority agenda of South Korean government. Remarks made by secretary Kim seem to be, at least superficially, on the same line with South Korean government suggesting all issues to be discussed on the conversation.
Ex-minister Kim Sung-Jae, who is also serving as a nongovernmental delegate of the Presidential Committee on Preparations for Unification said, “Kim Jung-Un regime might be seeking to change the atmosphere as they are gaining some confidence through three years of ruling,” adding, “It is expected that North Korea will show more flexibility as well.”
Yang Moo-Jin, professor of University of North Korean Studies, said, “North Korea has thrown the indirect message to South Korean government via the nongovernmental channel and will deliver a big bucket proposition through their messages for the New Year,” claiming. “South Korean government needs to show a more pro-active attitude in dealing with North-South relations.”