Rethinking ties with N. Korea

By Roar Sheppard

There have been many events recently in S. Korea about the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. It's great to see the much-needed campaign around the country promoting healing on the peninsula.

The ``han," or heart of pain, that Koreans have endured on both sides needs to begin healing. I think it's time we look at the situation from a new angle. I pose five questions and answers to look at today. This is how I see the situation.

First, why does North Korea take such action toward us and how should we approach them under this circumstance?

North Korea is taking such action because they are afraid. They are afraid of being open to the international community and are not accepting any contact from the outside. As they are too self-conceited, other countries should also get involved in the relationship between North and South Korea.

Other countries should view North Korea with sympathetic eyes. North Korea is afraid of opening its country to the outside world and it cannot open its gate by itself because it is afraid, too self-conceited and has no confidence.

North Korea actually wishes to open its gate to the outside world but is not confident enough to do so now. One thing for sure, they won't open their doors through outside force.

Second, how should the international society approach North Korea to open itself to the outside world?

We should wait until they find stability inside. They need some time until they find their stability back. They think of an approach from the outside world as a threat, therefore they take such provocative action. We should wait for some time. They will soon be fine. We should not take any action toward North Korea for the time being. They are afraid.

They will choose to open up in the end. As we continue to help them with economic aid, they will gradually expose themselves to the outside world. Though they are taking violent action toward us, they are sad and lonely in the prison of isolation they chose.

They lost stability inside and they do not know where to go. We should help them continuously and North Korea will realize that cooperation not confrontation is the only way to survive.

Third, in the relationship between North Korea and South Korea, not only the two Koreas but four other super powers such as the USA, China, Japan and Russia are also involved. What would be their roles?

Honestly, they are not so interested in this relationship. Naturally, what they only take care of is their own national security. They should realize this is not only a problem between North Korea and South Korea, but also a problem of the world. This is the problem that the entire world should be concerned about.

The tension between the North and the South will cause tension for the entire world. They don't know this. They think this is only a matter for the Korean Peninsula.

This is a problem that can only be solved when the whole world becomes aware that this is a common concern of humankind, and tries to solve it together. Otherwise this will forever remain unsolved.

Fourth, what would be the role of South Korea and its people in order to draw out the cooperation from the rest of the world?

The political leaders should no longer take advantage of it for their own sake. They should realize that this is a common concern of humankind; they should become the main actors to figure out the problem over the Korean peninsula.

They are too unskilled in dealing with North Korean issues and in the relation with other neighboring countries; they do not know how to handle the relationship. We need specialists. We need diplomatic specialists. We need to foster specialists who can improve the relationship between the North and the South and who can draw out the cooperation from other countries. Above all, we need to ask for help from Koreans living abroad. They will give us power. Then we should try to obtain the neighboring countries' consent.

We need to obtain neighboring countries' consent that this is the matter we should solve together. And next try to hold conversations and negotiations. Then North Korea will open its gate too. It is not the right time yet. We have to wait longer.

Fifth, unlike in the political sector, in religious circles, religious leaders such as the late Rev. Beopjeong, Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, and Rev. Kang Won-ryong reconciled the three different religions in South Korea. How did they achieve such reconciliation and what should we learn from them?

They truly opened their hearts and wished to become one. They are those who devoted all their lives to peace and welfare of humankind. What we should learn from them is as follows; they were honest with themselves.

They try to share what they have with others. They try to do what they know. If both parties can achieve learning from these religious leaders' attitude, they can also achieve the reconciliation of the two parties and assist with a more skillful approach to North Korea.

The writer has an M.A. degree in international relations from Yonsei University. As one of the head instructors at Suseonjae International Meditation, he's involved in various projects to promote peace on the peninsula. He can be reached at nukeroar@hotmail.com.