End wasteful war-of-nerves, reopen talks
One point that distinguishes the Park Geun-hye administration from its predecessor is a more flexible policy toward North Korea. But whatever the reason may be, inter-Korean relations have become worse, not better, since Park was elected five months ago. North Korea is far more responsible for the current deadlock, as it has been in most cases. However, as always, the South is in a far better position to dissolve it ― if only Seoul wishes to do so.
A case in point is the inter-Korean squabbling over the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. There is no doubt that the North caused the joint factory park to stop operating, citing the ridiculous excuse that the South bruised its communist pride. Pyongyang was apparently making false charges or at least exaggerated the minor faults of Seoul. Yet Seoul's "take-it-or-leave-it" response was also somewhat hasty.
The buck-passing and nitpicking between the two Koreas have become pettier recently. North Korea belatedly made public that it expressed an intention to discuss the aftermath of the stopped industrial park, in fax messages to some Korean firms, as part of thinly-veiled attempts to drive a wedge between the government and businesses here.
Seoul hit back, saying that the North's gesture lacked sincerity, and was aimed only at causing division among its South Korean counterparts. Both sides should stop these types of unproductive brawls and allow the visit to the idle complex by representatives of South Korean firms as early as possible.
North Korea's launch of four short range missiles over the weekend seemed to be another ploy to isolate South Korea from its allies of the United States and Japan. The meeting between North Korea's nominal leader Kim Young-nam and a special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might be another of Pyongyang's attempts to play one adversary off against another. Successful or not, Pyongyang's latest moves show it will take considerable time for the Koreans to resume any meaningful dialogue.
It may sound farfetched but now could be the time for President Park to demonstrate what her "trustpolitik" is. And she could do so by resuming humanitarian aid to malnourished children in North Korea.
Of course the new leader might not find it easy to make approaches to the recalcitrant regime, which conducted nuclear tests just before her inauguration and suspended the operation of a joint industrial park without a convincing reason.
If Park's trust-building process is to differentiate itself from her predecessor's strictly reciprocal policy, however, the incumbent president needs to stick to her promise by pushing ahead with the children's aid program, which continued even during the Lee Myung-bak administration but has all but stopped now. What always matters are deeds, not words.
President Park, a principle-centered politician, will think appearing to cave in to Pyongyang's pressure could spoil the wayward regime further. She may be right ― as long as the Koreas continue to be mired in a petty war-of-nerves. Only a far bolder approach ― such as redoubling the size of the Gaeseong zone ― will lead to a breakthrough. Only the richer and stronger side can afford to take the lead. And this is the way Park will be able to become not merely a good, but a great leader.
One point that distinguishes the Park Geun-hye administration from its predecessor is a more flexible policy toward North Korea. But whatever the reason may be, inter-Korean relations have become worse, not better, since Park was elected five months ago. North Korea is far more responsible for the current deadlock, as it has been in most cases. However, as always, the South is in a far better position to dissolve it ― if only Seoul wishes to do so.
A case in point is the inter-Korean squabbling over the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. There is no doubt that the North caused the joint factory park to stop operating, citing the ridiculous excuse that the South bruised its communist pride. Pyongyang was apparently making false charges or at least exaggerated the minor faults of Seoul. Yet Seoul's "take-it-or-leave-it" response was also somewhat hasty.
The buck-passing and nitpicking between the two Koreas have become pettier recently. North Korea belatedly made public that it expressed an intention to discuss the aftermath of the stopped industrial park, in fax messages to some Korean firms, as part of thinly-veiled attempts to drive a wedge between the government and businesses here.
Seoul hit back, saying that the North's gesture lacked sincerity, and was aimed only at causing division among its South Korean counterparts. Both sides should stop these types of unproductive brawls and allow the visit to the idle complex by representatives of South Korean firms as early as possible.
North Korea's launch of four short range missiles over the weekend seemed to be another ploy to isolate South Korea from its allies of the United States and Japan. The meeting between North Korea's nominal leader Kim Young-nam and a special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might be another of Pyongyang's attempts to play one adversary off against another. Successful or not, Pyongyang's latest moves show it will take considerable time for the Koreans to resume any meaningful dialogue.
It may sound farfetched but now could be the time for President Park to demonstrate what her "trustpolitik" is. And she could do so by resuming humanitarian aid to malnourished children in North Korea.
Of course the new leader might not find it easy to make approaches to the recalcitrant regime, which conducted nuclear tests just before her inauguration and suspended the operation of a joint industrial park without a convincing reason.
If Park's trust-building process is to differentiate itself from her predecessor's strictly reciprocal policy, however, the incumbent president needs to stick to her promise by pushing ahead with the children's aid program, which continued even during the Lee Myung-bak administration but has all but stopped now. What always matters are deeds, not words.
President Park, a principle-centered politician, will think appearing to cave in to Pyongyang's pressure could spoil the wayward regime further. She may be right ― as long as the Koreas continue to be mired in a petty war-of-nerves. Only a far bolder approach ― such as redoubling the size of the Gaeseong zone ― will lead to a breakthrough. Only the richer and stronger side can afford to take the lead. And this is the way Park will be able to become not merely a good, but a great leader.
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