[Editorial] North & South Must Make Progress in Relations

The intra-Korean ministerial talks that took place for four days last week ended with what was a relatively simple agreement, and it appears that conflict between the North and the United States over financial sanctions and human rights influenced the talks in a negative way. In contrast, it looks like trade between North and South Korea will have grown to a scale of over 10 billion dollars in 2005.

The North's delegation persistently demanded the removal of what it called "the three major obstacles" next year. Those "obstacles" would be the "cessation of all joint military maneuvers with foreign powers," U.S. export restrictions, and the Wassenaar Arrangement, a regime of controls on transactions involving conventional weapons and strategic goods. The North was brining up issues that naturally could have been raised if the six-party talks go right, but it shows you that the North earnestly wants to see progress in relations with the Americans. Intra-Korean talks cannot take the place of the six-party talks, however, and to the North needs to be a much more active participant in the six-party process. The issue of financial sanctions, in the meantime, is something that both sides can meet and discuss directly, without worrying about the format.

It was progress to have North and South agree to "expanding intra-Korean economic cooperation to new levels" and "opening military talks early in the new year," though it is unfortunate that they did not agree on a specific date for military contact because there have been times in the past when it was agreed there would be talks between military leaders only to not have them take place. Progress in relations is by itself something that contributes to peace on the Korean peninsula and the formation of a joint economic community. North and South need to make progress, without interruption, and in doing so pave the way for peaceful reunification and joint prosperity.

The Hankyoreh, 19 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]