By Rep. Choo Mi-ae
Northeast Asia now faces seemingly the greatest ever crisis since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The current situation can be described as an "all-out and comprehensive" crisis as North Korea has been mobilizing even conventional weapons compared to the first and second crisis period when it had exploited only nuclear tests and missile launches.
North Korea has been playing international politics with its nuclear program and it has long been a tool of politics beyond the simple meaning of a weapon.
Nevertheless, there have only been calls for military options from the South Korean and U.S. authorities and in the process politics has been missing. Now is high time to exercise politics and diplomacy to resolve the nuclear standoff.
North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons has two significant aspects.
First, it is a monster born due to geopolitical factors. That is to say the North has opted for nuclear armament as part of tactics to survive the geopolitical environment of being surrounded by major powers ― the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
Second, it is also a monster triggered by the national division as legacy of the Cold War. Nuclear weapons pursuit has been a tool for North Korea to obtain asymmetrical military superiority easily under the Cold War regime on the Korean Peninsula.
My firm belief is that the nuclear crisis can only be settled when such geopolitical factors are mitigated including the possible transition of the Cold War system into a peace regime.
But Seoul and Washington have only focused on the "side dish" of humanitarian assistance such as food aid rather than the "main dish" of denuclearization in exchange for guaranteeing the survival of the North Korean regime.
The U.S. needs to pursue leadership based on partnership through positive engagement for the sake of dialogue and persuasion, not as a leader with a militaristic policy but as one with an "audacious" policy.
It should not be misled by the wrong signals from the conservative forces and mass media of South Korea which tout military options while opposing dialogue.
The Obama administration needs to show audacious political commitment as it did last month when it sent former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to help resolve tension with China. It needs to exert efforts to restore trust with the North through direct dialogue and the process of denuclearization.
China, for its part, should seek a more positive role. It needs to assume a more responsible attitude as a participant of the armistice agreement, a leading member of the stalled six-party talks and an ally of North Korea.
Beijing should have direct talks with Pyongyang to show leadership in coordinating and mediating agenda issues as it did for the Sept. 19, 2005, Joint Declaration on the North's denuclearization.
Korea is the only divided nation in the world. Thus far, the U.S. and China have engaged in a power game in Northeast Asia with the Korean Peninsula as leverage.
In the event the peninsula becomes a "powder keg" in Northeast Asia, military confrontation between Washing and Beijing could also become a reality.
The U.S. and China should not forget that peace on the peninsula should be kept to ensure peace for all mankind as well as Northeast Asia.
Choo Mi-ae is a lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic United Party.
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| Rep. Choo Mi-ae |
North Korea has been playing international politics with its nuclear program and it has long been a tool of politics beyond the simple meaning of a weapon.
Nevertheless, there have only been calls for military options from the South Korean and U.S. authorities and in the process politics has been missing. Now is high time to exercise politics and diplomacy to resolve the nuclear standoff.
North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons has two significant aspects.
First, it is a monster born due to geopolitical factors. That is to say the North has opted for nuclear armament as part of tactics to survive the geopolitical environment of being surrounded by major powers ― the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
Second, it is also a monster triggered by the national division as legacy of the Cold War. Nuclear weapons pursuit has been a tool for North Korea to obtain asymmetrical military superiority easily under the Cold War regime on the Korean Peninsula.
My firm belief is that the nuclear crisis can only be settled when such geopolitical factors are mitigated including the possible transition of the Cold War system into a peace regime.
But Seoul and Washington have only focused on the "side dish" of humanitarian assistance such as food aid rather than the "main dish" of denuclearization in exchange for guaranteeing the survival of the North Korean regime.
The U.S. needs to pursue leadership based on partnership through positive engagement for the sake of dialogue and persuasion, not as a leader with a militaristic policy but as one with an "audacious" policy.
It should not be misled by the wrong signals from the conservative forces and mass media of South Korea which tout military options while opposing dialogue.
The Obama administration needs to show audacious political commitment as it did last month when it sent former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to help resolve tension with China. It needs to exert efforts to restore trust with the North through direct dialogue and the process of denuclearization.
China, for its part, should seek a more positive role. It needs to assume a more responsible attitude as a participant of the armistice agreement, a leading member of the stalled six-party talks and an ally of North Korea.
Beijing should have direct talks with Pyongyang to show leadership in coordinating and mediating agenda issues as it did for the Sept. 19, 2005, Joint Declaration on the North's denuclearization.
Korea is the only divided nation in the world. Thus far, the U.S. and China have engaged in a power game in Northeast Asia with the Korean Peninsula as leverage.
In the event the peninsula becomes a "powder keg" in Northeast Asia, military confrontation between Washing and Beijing could also become a reality.
The U.S. and China should not forget that peace on the peninsula should be kept to ensure peace for all mankind as well as Northeast Asia.
Choo Mi-ae is a lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic United Party.
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