Abe, Kim Jong-un posing major headaches for Park
By Kim Tae-gyu
As she heads into the second year of her five-year term, President Park Geun-hye is faced with a dual dilemma ㅡ how to deal with the troublesome leaders of North Korea and Japan.
The two loose cannons are North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, who recently executed his once-powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who visited a controversial temple last week to strain the already frayed relationship with Seoul.
"As far as the diplomatic scene in Northeast Asia is concerned, Park will experience very volatile conditions next year," said Professor Son Tae-gyu at Dankook University.
"During such an uncertain period, acumen and intuition are crucial. Park needs to take her time and make the right decisions at the right time, for the maximum benefit of the country."
Jang, the No. 2 man in the reclusive North for a long time, was dismissed and executed early this month for dubious reasons. South Korean officials continue to warn of possible North Korean provocations early next year as Kim seeks to divert the attention of his people to external issues.
"Under the worst-case scenario, Pyongyang might turn to military adventurism if it has a falling-out with its only benefactor, China," said Professor Shin Yul at Myongji University. "Then, the North may take a series of aggressive steps like it did early this year when the relationship between the two Koreas hit the nadir."
In the wake of the North's third atomic test in February and the resultant sanctions of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea unleashed ruthless verbal attacks against Seoul and Washington.
The communist country even shut down the inter-Korean industrial complex in the North's border city Gaeseong for months for the first time since its launch in 2004.
Park's other headache is her Japanese counterpart Abe, as the hawkish politician recently visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors war dead including 14 Class-A war criminals of World War II.
A Cheong Wa Dae official predicted that Abe's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine will drive a wedge between Seoul and Tokyo and generate additional concerns for Park, who has yet to meet Abe since her inauguration in February.
Even before the shrine visit, Abe failed to mend fences with Park after other problematic remarks and activities, which critics claim show his lack of contrition for the wartime atrocities of imperial Japan.
"It's would be like German Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting the tomb of Adolf Hitler. It's just unacceptable. From the perspective of Park, Abe is done once and for all," Shin said. "Park should never meet Abe. Otherwise, she will face a great backlash here."
By Kim Tae-gyu
As she heads into the second year of her five-year term, President Park Geun-hye is faced with a dual dilemma ㅡ how to deal with the troublesome leaders of North Korea and Japan.
The two loose cannons are North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, who recently executed his once-powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who visited a controversial temple last week to strain the already frayed relationship with Seoul.
"As far as the diplomatic scene in Northeast Asia is concerned, Park will experience very volatile conditions next year," said Professor Son Tae-gyu at Dankook University.
"During such an uncertain period, acumen and intuition are crucial. Park needs to take her time and make the right decisions at the right time, for the maximum benefit of the country."
Jang, the No. 2 man in the reclusive North for a long time, was dismissed and executed early this month for dubious reasons. South Korean officials continue to warn of possible North Korean provocations early next year as Kim seeks to divert the attention of his people to external issues.
"Under the worst-case scenario, Pyongyang might turn to military adventurism if it has a falling-out with its only benefactor, China," said Professor Shin Yul at Myongji University. "Then, the North may take a series of aggressive steps like it did early this year when the relationship between the two Koreas hit the nadir."
In the wake of the North's third atomic test in February and the resultant sanctions of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea unleashed ruthless verbal attacks against Seoul and Washington.
The communist country even shut down the inter-Korean industrial complex in the North's border city Gaeseong for months for the first time since its launch in 2004.
Park's other headache is her Japanese counterpart Abe, as the hawkish politician recently visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors war dead including 14 Class-A war criminals of World War II.
A Cheong Wa Dae official predicted that Abe's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine will drive a wedge between Seoul and Tokyo and generate additional concerns for Park, who has yet to meet Abe since her inauguration in February.
Even before the shrine visit, Abe failed to mend fences with Park after other problematic remarks and activities, which critics claim show his lack of contrition for the wartime atrocities of imperial Japan.
"It's would be like German Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting the tomb of Adolf Hitler. It's just unacceptable. From the perspective of Park, Abe is done once and for all," Shin said. "Park should never meet Abe. Otherwise, she will face a great backlash here."
