By Do Je-hae
The proposals for a host of joint inter-Koreans events to honor the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese rule were largely expected to bring the two Koreas closer.
However, with the anniversary only days away, their relations are going from bad to worse after a North Korean mine attack that severely hurt two South Korean soldiers on Aug. 4.
Few Koreans now expect joint inter-Korean celebrations.
"The North's provocation will lead to a heightened military tension, giving a negative impact to the already-strained inter-Korean relations," said Jang Sung-jang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute.
The incursion is a huge blow for the Park Geun-hye administration, which has vowed since the beginning of the year that it would use the liberation anniversary as an occasion for reconciliation of the two Koreas, technically at war for more than six decades.
The ideological division started way before the war during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), causing some Koreans to perceive national division as an outcome of the 35-year colonial rule.
The two Koreas' common resentment toward imperial Japan was not enough to bring them together for the 70th year of liberation.
In particular, a failure to realize joint sports and cultural events, is a major letdown for many Koreans.
Korea had been pushing for a joint football friendly, a highlight of an outline from the Prime Minister's office for joint commemorative projects. At the time of its announcement in May, the government seemed positive that at least in the area of sports, there was room for the two Koreans to do something together.
"I expect the football matches to go smoothly as I have been informed that North Korea is interested in holding the matches," said Jung Jong-wook, chairman of a committee under the Prime Minister for organizing the 70th anniversary events. The former ambassador to China said that relevant discussions had been underway and that football authorities of the two countries held talks in February in Shenyang, China.
Other failed joint ventures include a an exhibition of the Joseon Kingdom's (1392-1910) cultural heritages in Seoul and Gaeseong; and restoration of a disconnected Gyeongwon railway line that used to travel to Wonsan, a port city in North Korea's Gangwon Province.
During a ceremony to launch the South Korean part of the railway line on Aug.5, President Park Geun-hye urged North Korea to join inter-Korean ventures. "I urge North Korea to trust us and display courage in participating in the path for inter-Korean reconciliation."
But Pyongyang has turned a deaf ear to such calls and has not responded to Seoul's proposal for high-level talks.
The Ministry of Unification had proposed on Aug. 5 talks for discussing several pending issues, such as meetings for separated families on Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving; and re-starting tourism activities in Mt. Geumgang. Pyongyang has not responded to the proposal.
Its indifference to improving relations with the South was again visible when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un refused to meet Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, who had visited Pyongyang last week at his invitation. Lee's late husband and Kim's late father Kim Jong-il came met in a historic summit in 2000, producing the June 15 Declaration.
Joint activities to mark the 15th anniversary of the June 15 Declaration have mostly been scrapped as well.
The proposals for a host of joint inter-Koreans events to honor the 70th anniversary of liberation from Japanese rule were largely expected to bring the two Koreas closer.
However, with the anniversary only days away, their relations are going from bad to worse after a North Korean mine attack that severely hurt two South Korean soldiers on Aug. 4.
Few Koreans now expect joint inter-Korean celebrations.
"The North's provocation will lead to a heightened military tension, giving a negative impact to the already-strained inter-Korean relations," said Jang Sung-jang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute.
The incursion is a huge blow for the Park Geun-hye administration, which has vowed since the beginning of the year that it would use the liberation anniversary as an occasion for reconciliation of the two Koreas, technically at war for more than six decades.
The ideological division started way before the war during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), causing some Koreans to perceive national division as an outcome of the 35-year colonial rule.
The two Koreas' common resentment toward imperial Japan was not enough to bring them together for the 70th year of liberation.
In particular, a failure to realize joint sports and cultural events, is a major letdown for many Koreans.
Korea had been pushing for a joint football friendly, a highlight of an outline from the Prime Minister's office for joint commemorative projects. At the time of its announcement in May, the government seemed positive that at least in the area of sports, there was room for the two Koreans to do something together.
"I expect the football matches to go smoothly as I have been informed that North Korea is interested in holding the matches," said Jung Jong-wook, chairman of a committee under the Prime Minister for organizing the 70th anniversary events. The former ambassador to China said that relevant discussions had been underway and that football authorities of the two countries held talks in February in Shenyang, China.
Other failed joint ventures include a an exhibition of the Joseon Kingdom's (1392-1910) cultural heritages in Seoul and Gaeseong; and restoration of a disconnected Gyeongwon railway line that used to travel to Wonsan, a port city in North Korea's Gangwon Province.
During a ceremony to launch the South Korean part of the railway line on Aug.5, President Park Geun-hye urged North Korea to join inter-Korean ventures. "I urge North Korea to trust us and display courage in participating in the path for inter-Korean reconciliation."
But Pyongyang has turned a deaf ear to such calls and has not responded to Seoul's proposal for high-level talks.
The Ministry of Unification had proposed on Aug. 5 talks for discussing several pending issues, such as meetings for separated families on Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving; and re-starting tourism activities in Mt. Geumgang. Pyongyang has not responded to the proposal.
Its indifference to improving relations with the South was again visible when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un refused to meet Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, who had visited Pyongyang last week at his invitation. Lee's late husband and Kim's late father Kim Jong-il came met in a historic summit in 2000, producing the June 15 Declaration.
Joint activities to mark the 15th anniversary of the June 15 Declaration have mostly been scrapped as well.
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