Issued in the form of a joint newspaper editorial, North Korea, in it's new year's message, is expressing much more interest in intra-Korean relations than previously. On the other hand it makes absolutely no mention of the nuclear issue and the six party talks, making it look like setting a date for restarting the fifth round of talks will be difficult.
Titled "Make a Higher Leap Full of Great Ambition and Confidence," the editorial, like last year, calls for Songun thought and strong and powerful nation along the lines of "Korean-style socialism." And, just like last year, it says agriculture the "main front" of economic construction and calls for a general mobilization of to that effect, again affirming its determination to put feeding the people at the center of its economic efforts.
That naturally leads to deeper intra-Korean cooperation, because the North knows quite well that no matter what it may pull together internally, it cannot achieve economic modernization on its own. The editorial defines 2005 as a "major mark in the history of the campaign towards the reunification of the fatherland." It June 15, 2000, the date the joint declaration was adopted at the intra-Korean summit in Pyongyang, something that should be made a regular event, and proposes that North and South "strongly move forward on the 'three major patriotic campaigns' of independent reunification, peace and anti-war, and grand Korean unity." The North is making it clear that it wishes to develop relations further and increase the political and economic benefits that come with that.
Whatever the North's motives, relations should indeed be strengthened. Whatever fluctuations there may be in the larger situation, there needs to be unwavering progress in exchange and cooperation in all areas. There particularly needs to be military dialogue, because that is the cornerstone of establishing a peace regime on the Korean peninsula.
Nevertheless, better relations are no substitute for the effort to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Intra-Korean relations will invariably be affected if the six party talks do not open soon and produce results. Everyone involved in the six party talks needs to pool their wisdom together and apply it to getting the talks started again.
The Hankyoreh, 2 January 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] North Korea Stresses Relations With South |
