As we pass through the initial stages of the North Korean missile crisis, the attitudes taken by the countries most concerned are becoming clear. The countries shared a common denominator when it came to the United Nations Security Council resolution passed on July 15, but the U.S. and Japan are intensifying their hard-line measures while China and Russia are looking for diplomatic solutions. The South Korean government’s basic position is to refrain from going too far in applying or interpreting the resolution and to resolve the matter through dialogue and negotiation. That is the right approach, because it seeks to prevent the unnecessary heightening of tensions and increases the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the North Korean missile and nuclear issues.
Attention now turns to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum on July 27-28. If things go as scheduled, all the foreign ministers from the nations participating in the six-party talks will be in attendance. North Korea has a responsibility to attend the forum and mitigate the concerns of the international community and share in serious dialogue with the other countries in the six-party process. It will only find itself more isolated if it fails to show up and the forum passes a document regarding its nuclear and missile programs. That does not mean it would be desirable to have the remaining five nations hold talks by themselves, because it would have a negative influence on the ability to maintain the framework of the six-party talks.
It would also not be appropriate to overreact to the sudden halt of all forms of inter-Korean contact. But inter-Korean relations cannot ignore the international climate, and so it is inevitable that they are affected until the problem of resuming the six-party talks is resolved. It has to be recognized that the family reunions the North have halted are related to the South’s stopping of rice and fertilizer aid. What is important is that these events do not harm the foundations of the "big three" economic cooperation projects that symbolize inter-Korean relations. The South should also take a resolute stance against irresponsible moves in the two Koreas and abroad that are trying to disrupt enterprises like the Gaeseong (Kaesong) Industrial Park and tours of Mount Geumgang (Kumgang).
The North’s missile tests do not change the character of the nuclear and missile issues, nor do they invalidate the six-party talks. In fact, they make the issue a more urgent one and the framework of the six-party talks all the more valuable. The countries involved in the issue need to concentrate their energy on restarting the talks and creating new momentum by examining why it is the talks have not been productive so far. Focusing on sanctions without ever spending any effort on making the process work will obviously only make the situation worse.
[Editorial] We must stick to negotiation to resolve North Korea crisis |
