The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Disgraced ex-minister's daughter says she feels proud, qualified as a doctor

  • 3

    Coupang reveals Asia's largest fulfillment center in Daegu

  • 5

    'Celebrity forests' emerge as new K-pop trend in Seoul

  • 7

    Tiger endures 3 years of solitary confinement in closed zoo

  • 9

    Netflix survival show 'Physical 100' attracts viewers with sweat, muscle and human story

  • 11

    Rescuers race against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,000

  • 13

    Ex-justice minister, daughter blamed for unrepentant attitude over academic fraud

  • 15

    INTERVIEW'Korea, US can create synergy in space industry': NASA ambassador

  • 17

    Seoul narrows in on new slogan

  • 19

    Korea to allow currency trading by offshore firms, extend market hours

  • 2

    Singer Lee Seung-gi to marry actor Lee Da-in in April

  • 4

    SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing

  • 6

    Ex-gov't employee summarily indicted for alleged attempt to sell Jungkook's lost hat

  • 8

    Seoul city zeroes in on foreign residents' unpaid taxes

  • 10

    Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga

  • 12

    Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air

  • 14

    SM founder Lee Soo-man returns home, in hospital to treat arm fracture

  • 16

    Apple confirms launch of Apple Pay in Korea

  • 18

    Chainsaw Fest set to rip apart Club SHARP

  • 20

    Korea opens metaverse platform for Korean-language learning

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, February 9, 2023 | 09:13
-------------------------
Outgoing negotiator calls for realistic approach to N. Korea
Posted : 2011-10-30 17:06
Updated : 2011-10-30 17:06
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's new ambassador to Russia

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Wi Sung-lac was South Korea’s longest-serving chief nuclear negotiator since the six-party talks to terminate North Korea’s nuclear program were launched in the early 2000s.

But Wi, South Korea’s new ambassador to Russia, never sat down at the negotiating table with his counterparts as the multilateral talks were stalled while he held the position from February 2009 to October 2011.

The veteran diplomat, 57, said he has “no regrets” over this.

“The six-party talks are a format where all players gather to conclude what they negotiated outside the multilateral talks,” he said.

Over the past two years and eight months, Wi had several rounds of meetings with his counterparts from the United States, China, Japan, Russia and even North Korea.

Wi said he tried not to be misled by a small win such as bringing North Korea back to the negotiating table because talks for the sake of talking are doomed to be short-lived.

During the hiatus in the nuclear talks, he laid the groundwork for “a real win” over North Korea ― denuclearization ― with what he called a macro-level, holistic approach.

Under the three-point scheme, Wi said a realistic understanding of North Korea, the China factor and the internal dynamics of the North at a time of a dynastic power succession are core elements for a durable North Korea policy.

“North Korea tends to play all cards they can if that is what it takes to win the game,” he said. “Provocation is part of their tactic to win over their counterparts. For North Korea, both provocation and dialogue are tools to fulfill their purpose.”

Figuratively speaking, Wi said, a sword is among a deck of cards North Korea has in its hand, while playing a card game with others.

“Having said that, I won’t be surprised even if the North commits belligerent acts at a time when dialogue is underway.”

He called on Seoul’s policymakers to have a realistic view of what North Korea is and then address its unique negotiation pattern when mapping out a strategy to deal with the provocative player.

Wi warned of the danger of playing the North Korea card in domestic politics. If Seoul tries to “do business” with the North for the sake of short-sighted political gains, North Korea will try to take advantage of it, he said.

China factor

While serving as the chief nuclear negotiator, Wi directed his team to study the China factor in an effort to untangle the North Korean nuclear puzzle.

According to him, China, North Korea’s decades-long benefactor, has a unique role in the North Korea game. When South Korea, the United States and Japan slapped sanctions on the North, he said North Korea’s trade reliance on China grew.

“Given the role of China in North Korea, it will be difficult to end the North’s nuclear program with the road map having no understanding of the China factor and its implications.”

Wrapping up his negotiator role, the ambassador came up with a set of recommendations on China for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He said some of them will be unveiled soon, but he declined to give his recommendations in great detail.

Wi said the internal dynamics of North Korea is another factor that can have an impact on the communist state’s decades-long pursuit of a nuclear program.

“We don’t know in great detail about the North’s next leader. We also cannot rule out the possibility that the succession turns out the way that the North Korean regime doesn't want,” he said.

“A variety of variables are lurking in the leadership succession period as it is underway at a time when the North Korean leader’s health is declining and economic hardships continue in the impoverished nation.”

The new ambassador to Russia noted, “We South Korea need to be fully prepared for any kinds of contingencies in the North.”

Wi was appointed as ambassador for Russia at a time when bilateral ties show signs of reaching a new level as the plan to construct a natural gas pipeline connecting the two Koreas to the Russian Far East gains momentum.

He is scheduled to head to Moscow in mid-November to assume his new mission. He is the first chief nuclear negotiator assuming an ambassadorial post in one of the so-called four power nations. The three others are the United States, China and Japan.
Emailhkang@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga
2Turkey-Syria earthquake Turkey-Syria earthquake
3Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession
4[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund' INTERVIEW'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'
5SM's management dispute to benefit KakaoSM's management dispute to benefit Kakao
6National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedyNational Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy
7SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price
8Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market
9[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change INTERVIEWVeteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change
10Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, SyriaKorean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
2SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
3The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
4Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air
5K-pop stars and dating K-pop stars and dating
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group