By Rachel Lee
President Moon Jae-in's initiatives to improve ties with North Korea have come to a halt following the North's refusal of offers by South Korean civic groups to resume exchanges.
Pyongyang called on Seoul, Tuesday, to instead fulfill inter-Korean summit declarations signed on June 15, 2000, and Oct. 4, 2007, to promote bilateral cooperation and reconciliation and reduce military tensions.
After the liberal government came to power, it planned to be flexible about private sector exchanges in resuming inter-Korea relations. The unification ministry has approved 15 civic and religious organizations' requests for contact with North Koreans for humanitarian aid.
The groups include the NGO Green One Korea which wished to discuss joint moves to conserve forests, the Council of South and North Korean Historians which wished to discuss preservation of cultural assets, the World Taekwondo Federation which wanted to hold a joint conference with the North, and the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation also looking to hold a conference.
But North Korea rejected the overtures Monday, citing Seoul's backing for U.N. Security Council sanctions adopted to punish Pyongyang's recent missile provocations.
The North's Rodong Sinmun reported that the South's approval of humanitarian assistance and civilian exchanges, which the previous conservative governments cut off, does not necessarily mean cross-border ties will improve.
"Whether to abide by the inter-Korean summit declarations shows whether the South wants improvement in inter-Korean relations or that it seeks fratricidal conflict," it said. "In solving the deteriorated relations between the two Koreas and seeking unification, nothing can replace the declarations."
While the North rejected the Moon government's gesture to improve relations, observers say it remains to be seen whether ties between the two Koreas will improve after the South Korea-U.S. summit slated for the end of this month.
"The North thinks the South has put greater importance on its relations with the U.S. than those with the North," said a member of a civic group which has sought inter-Korean exchange programs.
In that respect, joint statements that may be issued during the summit will play a key role in Seoul-Pyongyang ties, he added.
Some experts say any statements may fall short of North Korea's standards as the international community is not easing sanctions on the country following Pyongyang's continuing provocations.
Kim Yeon-chul, a professor at Inje University, said it will be difficult to find a breakthrough in improving relations with Pyongyang as the two Koreas have different ways of approaching and resolving these issues.
Kim said Seoul puts a greater emphasis on civilian exchanges, but for Pyongyang, cooperation between the two governments comes first.
"Rather than rushing to restore ties, it seems it's more important for the new government to set the principles of civilian exchanges and come up with a more detailed North Korea policy," the professor said.
The two Koreas held their first summit in June 2000.
The Park Geun-hye government stopped almost all civilian exchanges with the North following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test early last year.
President Moon Jae-in's initiatives to improve ties with North Korea have come to a halt following the North's refusal of offers by South Korean civic groups to resume exchanges.
Pyongyang called on Seoul, Tuesday, to instead fulfill inter-Korean summit declarations signed on June 15, 2000, and Oct. 4, 2007, to promote bilateral cooperation and reconciliation and reduce military tensions.
After the liberal government came to power, it planned to be flexible about private sector exchanges in resuming inter-Korea relations. The unification ministry has approved 15 civic and religious organizations' requests for contact with North Koreans for humanitarian aid.
The groups include the NGO Green One Korea which wished to discuss joint moves to conserve forests, the Council of South and North Korean Historians which wished to discuss preservation of cultural assets, the World Taekwondo Federation which wanted to hold a joint conference with the North, and the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation also looking to hold a conference.
But North Korea rejected the overtures Monday, citing Seoul's backing for U.N. Security Council sanctions adopted to punish Pyongyang's recent missile provocations.
The North's Rodong Sinmun reported that the South's approval of humanitarian assistance and civilian exchanges, which the previous conservative governments cut off, does not necessarily mean cross-border ties will improve.
"Whether to abide by the inter-Korean summit declarations shows whether the South wants improvement in inter-Korean relations or that it seeks fratricidal conflict," it said. "In solving the deteriorated relations between the two Koreas and seeking unification, nothing can replace the declarations."
While the North rejected the Moon government's gesture to improve relations, observers say it remains to be seen whether ties between the two Koreas will improve after the South Korea-U.S. summit slated for the end of this month.
"The North thinks the South has put greater importance on its relations with the U.S. than those with the North," said a member of a civic group which has sought inter-Korean exchange programs.
In that respect, joint statements that may be issued during the summit will play a key role in Seoul-Pyongyang ties, he added.
Some experts say any statements may fall short of North Korea's standards as the international community is not easing sanctions on the country following Pyongyang's continuing provocations.
Kim Yeon-chul, a professor at Inje University, said it will be difficult to find a breakthrough in improving relations with Pyongyang as the two Koreas have different ways of approaching and resolving these issues.
Kim said Seoul puts a greater emphasis on civilian exchanges, but for Pyongyang, cooperation between the two governments comes first.
"Rather than rushing to restore ties, it seems it's more important for the new government to set the principles of civilian exchanges and come up with a more detailed North Korea policy," the professor said.
The two Koreas held their first summit in June 2000.
The Park Geun-hye government stopped almost all civilian exchanges with the North following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test early last year.
