By Kim Tae-gyu
Pyongyang may be apprehensive due to the summit between President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping, experts said Monday.
During her four-day state visit to China, Park developed a close rapport with Xi as they articulated a strong commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.
“Things have changed after the summit. Now, South Korea and China appear to be much closer and Pyongyang is well aware of this fact,” said Chang Yong-seok, a researcher at the Institute of Peace and Unification Studies affiliated with Seoul National University.
“The North seems to be in a dilemma and cannot grapple with the post-summit situation. It can neither resume talks with the South nor blatantly scrap them altogether. North Korea’s dilemma is well demonstrated by its remarks.”
Pyongyang proposed a senior-level dialogue with Seoul last month, but it fell apart due to disputes over the status of each delegation’s head. Consequently, Pyongyang requested talks with Washington to little avail.
In this situation, North Korea can decide whether it wishes to resume high-level meetings with South Korea, but the Stalinist regime has not stated its position on Monday, a day after Park’s visit to China has ended.
The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) condemned President Park in response to her opposition to the North’s policy of developing its economy without giving up its nuclear ambitions.
During her speech delivered at Tsinghua University, Park demanded that North Korea should renounce its nuclear programs in order to gain the South’s wholehearted support.
The North flatly refused the renewed version of the aid-for-disarmament offer and openly condemned Park for the second time since her inauguration in late February. However, North Korea also claimed it will observe Park’s actions with its “last ounce of patience.”
“The North overtly stated that it will adopt a wait-and-see stance for the time being. This demonstrates that the country has yet to determine the course of inter-Korean meetings,” Chang said.
“Whenever China, its long-time ally, has overtly exhibited signs of improved relations with the South, North Korea inversely faces a dilemma. North Korea knows that it cannot afford to make a mistake.”
Prof. Yoo Ho-yeol of Korea University concurred.
“In the past, China has protected North Korea in so many instances, even when it had been the target of international criticisms. The shield remains, but it is now paper-thin,” Yoo said.
“The North cannot easily renounce its nuclear weapons, but China will no longer overlook its aggressive stance. North Korea appears to be at a loss in this very serious dilemma. For now, it will probably maintain its verbal attacks against the South without invoking any physical provocations.”