[Editorial] Both Sides Should Take Responsibility for Fruitless Military Talks

The third round of intra-Korean military talks, convened in Panmunjeom nine-months after the last round of talks, ended Friday without any agreement. One might find significance in that the two sides got to meet face-to-face and confirm their positions, but the results are initially disappointing. Both sides need to coolly reflect.

The South came to discuss ways to prevent military clashes in the West Sea, establish a joint fishing zone, guarantee military talks to open up railways and roads through the DMZ, and convene another round of military talks and a second round of talks between defense ministers. The North, on the other hand, reiterated that it would concentrate on the issue of redefining the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, so the two sides could find no points of agreement, beginning from the agenda. The North’s attitude is too rigid. This is because while it’s true that establishing a joint fishing zone and preventing armed clashes in the West Sea is connected to redefining the NLL, there were also areas where progress could have been separately made. Because of this, the issue of guaranteeing passage through intra-Korean railways and roads was pushed to the rear without even being touched.

One has to criticize the South’s easygoing attitude as well. The North emphasized the redrawing of the NLL during the second round of talks as well. In the 1992 Basic Agreement Between the South and the North, too, it calls for the two sides to define the NLL through negotiations. It’s not something you can put off forever. During this round of talks, the Southern delegation is said to have proposed discussing the issue during the next round of talks. One is curious why the delegation didn’t prepare so that it could begin discussions of something that it would discuss in the next round of talks.

During the ministerial talks at the end of this month, the sluice gates must be opened on the NLL issue and added to the agenda of the next round of military talks and defense minister talks. Progress on reducing intra-Korean military tension and building trust can be made only by sincerely approaching fundamental issues along with pressing issues and their solutions. The crab season is fast approaching. Just thinking of the fishermen from both sides, military talks must be quickly resumed.

The Hankyoreh, 6 March 2006.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]