Election win sets Moon to push harder for NK policy

President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their summit at the truce village of Panmunjeom, April 27, 2018. / Korea Times file

By Kang Seung-woo

Following the sweeping victory by the ruling party in the general election, the Moon Jae-in administration's North Korea policy is expected to gain momentum.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its affiliate, Civil Together, won 60 percent of all seats in the 300-strong National Assembly. Given that the April 15 parliamentary elections served as a referendum on Moon's presidency, now in the third year of his five-year term, the win is likely to give more political space for his government to continue pursuing its policy agenda related to the North.

Inter-Korean relations have remained at a standstill as diplomacy between the two countries has been deadlocked since the collapse of the Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February 2019.

"The resounding election triumph has cleared the way for the Moon administration to push harder for its Korean Peninsula peace process," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

In a New Year speech, Moon stressed the need for inter-Korean cooperation for peace on the peninsula along with internationally coordinated solutions ― zero tolerance for war, mutual security guarantees and common prosperity.

In addition, the unification ministry also unveiled its annual policy plan last month, under which it will seek reconciliation and exchange projects with the North such as individual trips to the reclusive nation and a renewed proposal to transform the demilitarized zone (DMZ) into a peace area.

During the outgoing Assembly, President Moon often saw numerous bills linked to inter-Korean relations stalled as the rival parties bickered over them, preventing any progress; but in the incoming parliament, the ruling bloc's super-majority will enable the party to avoid such political conflict as it can now fast-track the passage of bills without support from the other parties.

During the election campaign, the DPK also pledged to promote inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, giving a boost to the government.

"Stalled inter-Korean ties are due to a deadlock in U.S.-North diplomacy, but a lack of parliamentary support for the government's policy toward the North is also responsible," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University.

Cho Hey-sil, the unification ministry's deputy spokesman, also said last week that the ministry will closely cooperate with the incoming Assembly when pursuing inter-Korean policy.

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Making Moon's situation better, the country has been witnessing the coronavirus pandemic slowing down of late, giving some leeway for the President to reignite his drive to improve ties with the North.

With Seoul set to pursue inter-Korean projects, there is speculation that Pyongyang may also respond to any proposal.

Although the North has put dialogue with the U.S. above the South, Trump, seeking reelection in November, is not likely to hold a third summit with Kim ahead of the presidential poll. Earlier this year, Trump was quoted as saying that he does not want another summit with the North Korean leader before the election.

In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Korean regime has sealed off its border with China, leading the country to undergo even more economic difficulties.

Plus, the ruling bloc has claimed a fourth-straight election win dating back to 2016, raising expectations that its side can win the presidency in the 2022 presidential election, which will assure consistency in North Korea policies.

Moon Chung-in, second from left, President Moon Jae-in's special security adviser, former Unification Ministers Jeong Se-hyun, second from right, and Lee Jong-seok, right, hold a special meeting on the Korean Peninsula hosted by the National Unification Advisory Council in Seoul, April 20. / Yonhap

Meanwhile, senior advisers to President Moon have suggested that the government take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic for a breakthrough in improving the ties with the North, as health-related cross border projects could provide an opportunity for the two Koreas to push ahead for a summit and alleviate stalled relations.

"The North is focused on building the Pyongyang General Hospital and it means the country has changed its priority in its policy, so we can make a breakthrough in healthcare cooperation," former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said in a discussion with Moon Chung-in, the President's special adviser for foreign affairs and national security, and Lee Jong-seok, another former unification minister, April 20. The forum was held ahead of the second anniversary of the first Moon-Kim summit on April 27, 2018.

In March, President Moon once again proposed cross-border healthcare cooperation with the North, but Pyongyang has not responded to Seoul's repeated offers for this and talks, including an offer to cooperate in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee also stressed the need for bold proposals to the North in such projects, suggesting the South provide all the medical devices needed for the Pyongyang hospital.

"The North is currently putting an emphasis on healthcare, as evidenced by its recent Workers' Party meeting. In that respect, if we need to propose epoch-making ideas, the North may respond," Lee said.

Moon Chung-in said he remains optimistic that inter-Korean talks will gain traction when the coronavirus pandemic eases.

"I think the coronavirus situation will enter a phase of stability and guidelines will be eased during the first week of May. I expect a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations from that point and before the 21th National Assembly opens in June ... I think North Korea will respond to us then," he said.

"The North cannot ignore the changing political situation in South Korea ... we are taking steps and making proposals in various ways," he said without elaborating further.