By Kim Hyo-jin
President Park Geun-hye will not attend Russia's war victory anniversary next month. Instead, Korea will send a presidential envoy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.
"Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, Park's special adviser on political affairs, will attend the May 9 ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II," the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry said the presidential envoy's attendance would contribute to improving Seoul-Moscow relations in the year marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The announcement came after the months of speculation about whether Park would attend the celebrations, where she could possibly meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines.
The Russian government invited Park and Kim to its May 9 anniversary. Following the invitation, the North Korean leader confirmed his attendance, the Kremlin said last month. However, Seoul had been cautious about whether Park would attend.
Political analysts said the South Korean decision was made because of continuing tension between the West and Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
The U.S. and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Russia for annexing Crimea and for supporting armed rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Because of the Ukraine situation, major Western countries, including the U.S., have turned down Moscow's invitation.
"If President Park Geun-hye decides to attend the event, it can be seen as a pardon for what Moscow has done," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies "The government, for sure, did not want to risk its stance in the international community."
Koh Yoo-hwan, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University echoed the view, saying, "The government must have taken into consideration that many Western nations are not attending."
While agreeing that the decision was understandable, some observers expressed strong disappointment.
"Relations between Russia and North Korea have warmed recently, so Seoul needed to gain leverage by responding to Putin's invitation positively," said World North Korea Research Center director Ahn Chan-il.
Professor Yang also said Seoul had failed to seek multi-channel diplomacy.
"Considering Russia's role in securing peace in the region, it might not be a wise decision," he said, pointing out that Russia was taking presidency of the working group for Northeast Asia security in the six-party talks.
Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University also criticized the decision, saying Seoul's diplomacy was losing ground.
"It is contradictory that the President turned down the invitation while the government talks a lot about the Eurasia initiative," Chang said. "Especially with China upset by the ongoing discussion about deployment of the THAAD, Seoul should approach relations with Russia strategically."
Some political observers said that if Park had met Kim, even briefly, such a meeting would have been significant in itself.
"It still has a symbolic meaning," the director Ahn said. "It could have been a breakthrough in the icy relationship between the two Koreas."
President Park Geun-hye will not attend Russia's war victory anniversary next month. Instead, Korea will send a presidential envoy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Saturday.
"Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, Park's special adviser on political affairs, will attend the May 9 ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II," the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry said the presidential envoy's attendance would contribute to improving Seoul-Moscow relations in the year marking the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The announcement came after the months of speculation about whether Park would attend the celebrations, where she could possibly meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines.
The Russian government invited Park and Kim to its May 9 anniversary. Following the invitation, the North Korean leader confirmed his attendance, the Kremlin said last month. However, Seoul had been cautious about whether Park would attend.
Political analysts said the South Korean decision was made because of continuing tension between the West and Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
The U.S. and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions on Russia for annexing Crimea and for supporting armed rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Because of the Ukraine situation, major Western countries, including the U.S., have turned down Moscow's invitation.
"If President Park Geun-hye decides to attend the event, it can be seen as a pardon for what Moscow has done," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies "The government, for sure, did not want to risk its stance in the international community."
Koh Yoo-hwan, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University echoed the view, saying, "The government must have taken into consideration that many Western nations are not attending."
While agreeing that the decision was understandable, some observers expressed strong disappointment.
"Relations between Russia and North Korea have warmed recently, so Seoul needed to gain leverage by responding to Putin's invitation positively," said World North Korea Research Center director Ahn Chan-il.
Professor Yang also said Seoul had failed to seek multi-channel diplomacy.
"Considering Russia's role in securing peace in the region, it might not be a wise decision," he said, pointing out that Russia was taking presidency of the working group for Northeast Asia security in the six-party talks.
Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies of Seoul National University also criticized the decision, saying Seoul's diplomacy was losing ground.
"It is contradictory that the President turned down the invitation while the government talks a lot about the Eurasia initiative," Chang said. "Especially with China upset by the ongoing discussion about deployment of the THAAD, Seoul should approach relations with Russia strategically."
Some political observers said that if Park had met Kim, even briefly, such a meeting would have been significant in itself.
"It still has a symbolic meaning," the director Ahn said. "It could have been a breakthrough in the icy relationship between the two Koreas."
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