  The United States is stepping up pressure against North Korea. Washington’s tough stance is seen in U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent warning message to the North. In a press conference after a summit with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on June 6, President Obama said North Korea’s actions over the last several months have been extraordinarily provocative, stressing that the U.S. has no intention of continuing a policy of rewarding provocation. Obama said he prefers diplomacy, but he pointed out North Korea’s lack of serious efforts toward a diplomatic solution. He also said he doesn’t think there should be an assumption that Washington will simply continue down the same path, hinting at a shift in policy toward North Korea. Obama’s remarks aren’t much different from the U.S. administration’s previous hard-line comments about the communist country, but it is notable that they’ve become much stronger. Here’s Professor Jeon Bong-geun from the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security to explain.
President Obama made his first reaction to North Korea with strong remarks. The U.S. regards Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test as a direct challenge to the Obama government and its policy of nuclear nonproliferation. Washington thinks it must block North Korea’s move in order to strengthen the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. It is also concerned that the North’s nuclear test might prompt an arms race and even competition for nuclear weapons in Northeast Asia. And inter-Korean relations will deteriorate further, unless the U.S. deals with the situation actively. Regional stability is another explanation for Washington’s move to urge North Korea to give up its nuclear development.
In response to North Korea’s nuclear test last month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has mentioned the possibility of putting the North back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Appearing in an ABC program on June 7, Clinton said the U.S. was examining recent evidence of North Korea’s support for international terrorism. She also said if North Korea seeks to transfer nuclear materials to other countries, the U.S. will take every action to interdict such attempts and block the flow of finance in and out of North Korea, suggesting that Washington could impose its own financial sanctions on the North. Experts say it will be hard for the U.S. State Department to actually place the North back on the list of nations sponsoring terrorism. But they note the U.S. Secretary of State has left the possibility open and her strong message will have huge repercussions in the communist state.
From a legal standpoint, it’s not that simple to put North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The relisting will be possible when North Korea is found to have supported terrorism during a certain period. But it’s pointless to argue legal conditions now. The U.S. removed Pyongyang from the terrorism list last year in order to facilitate the progress of nuclear negotiations. Whether North Korea supported terrorism was not a matter of concern at the time. Unfortunately, it turned out that North Korea conducted a nuclear test, and Washington’s delisting became meaningless. In this vein, the U.S. is considering relisting the North as one of the nations sponsoring terrorism. This may prove to be a strong negotiation card to pressure North Korea. I think the U.S. will continue to bring up this issue.
 Meanwhile, South Korea and the U.S. have decided to jointly address North Korea’s nuclear test and missile launches in light of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The announcement was made at the foreign ministers’ meeting between the two countries in Washington on June 5. According to experts, the decision shows it’s getting harder to resolve North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocation through diplomatic negotiations and Pyongyang is now recognized as a serious military threat.
Many experts speculated that North Korea had pursued its nuclear development to gain the upper hand at the negotiations with the U.S. But the North’s second nuclear test sounds the alarm that the country really intends to be armed with nuclear weapons. So it’s absolutely necessary to counter the North’s move in a more systematic and active way. The recent foreign ministers’ meeting between South Korea and the U.S. reawakened the need. Both Seoul and Washington have sought to resolve North Korean issues diplomatically, but Pyongyang defiantly demonstrated its nuclear and missile capability to the outside world. I imagine leaders of South Korea and the U.S. will allocate much time to discuss countermeasures against the North’s nuclear threat during their summit next week.
Some are concerned about the possibility of a military clash on the Korean Peninsula, citing that both South Korea and the U.S. are now showing a shift in their positions toward North Korea. Yet Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said on June 6 that military action is not the focus of Washington’s efforts, reiterating that the U.S. is not planning to send additional troops to South Korea. So, the U.S. is hardening its already tough policy toward North Korea, but it’s leaving open the possibility of taking a conciliatory approach to deal with the situation. The ball is now in North Korea’s court. If the North chooses to dismantle its nuclear programs, it will see “bold negotiations and compensation.” If not, the reclusive nation will face “drastic sanctions.”
It’s all up to North Korea whether the U.S. will be getting tougher or seek dialogue with the North. At present, strong resistance from North Korea is expected. The nation has already warned of confrontational measures, such as another nuclear test, long-range missile launches and the operation of an enriched uranium program. But considering that North Korea’s second nuclear test caused the international community’s strong and concerted reaction, additional provocation would be a great burden to the North. Therefore, Pyongyang will, hopefully, ponder how to respond to international pressure. At this point in time, there will be concerted international action aimed at reminding North Korea of its wrongdoings. The international community is expected to maintain its hard-line attitude for the time being.
North Korea and the U.S. are likely just beginning a lengthy and grueling bout of tug-of-war. In the meantime, it’s important for both Koreas to commit to resuming dialogue, and for the Obama administration to maintain an open attitude. Involved countries should find a positive solution to the nuclear issue quickly in order to avoid further conflict in this part of the world.
[Interview] N. Korean Defector Writes about New Life in S. Korea
The number of North Korean defectors who have entered South Korea amounts to 15-thousand. Books about North Korea or real stories of North Korean defectors can be easily found at local bookstores these days. One of them is “Seoul, Way Beyond Pyongyang,” written by Lim Il, a former North Korean defector and author of two other books. His latest book shares interesting episodes that Lim experienced in the course of resettling here in South Korea. Before defecting to South Korea in 1997, Lim worked in the office of the North Korean trade representative in Kuwait. Here’s Mr. Lim, telling us about the culture shock he faced when he first arrived here.
 Upon arriving in Seoul, I was most shocked by teenagers’ fashion culture. I was surprised to see so many students with miniskirts and blonde hair. Also, almost all the shops in the streets of Myeongdong, downtown Seoul, had foreign signs. I couldn’t believe I was in South Korea. It felt like I was in America or some other foreign country. It was a confusing experience.
Lim began to keep a daily journal about his new experiences in South Korea. One day, he began to think about publishing his journal entries as a book, assuming his insights might be useful for other North Korean defectors. He found most North Korea-related books were focused on grave themes, such as Kim Jong-il or political and military issues. So he decided to write his story in a lighter and more interesting way. He highlights trivial episodes of his South Korean life. Also, he compares the lifestyles of both Koreas to help readers better understand their communist neighbor.
I’ve noticed most office workers in Seoul wear business suits and neckties. Pyongyang citizens wear suits only three or four times a year on special occasions, such as national holidays or events featuring North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Usually, they wear casual clothing, like jackets. Interestingly, dry cleaners are called “clothes mending houses” or “laundry houses” in North Korea. “Computer cleaning” is a common title for dry cleaners here in South Korea. But when I first read the sign, I thought it was a computer repair shop. Also in North Korea, men go to barber shops and women, beauty salons. I was very surprised to see South Korean men get their hair cut in beauty shops. How can men go to beauty salons? But that’s a common practice here.
One day, a barber in his neighborhood suggested that he get hair cut and receive a massage at the same time. He accepted the proposal without realizing he’d have to pay the hefty fee of 70-thousand won. At the time, he shed tears at the thought of spending so much in adjusting to his new life in Seoul. Twelve years have passed since he arrived in South Korea, and in that time he has experienced a lot of trial and error. Lim defines his hometown, Pyongyang, and his second home, Seoul, as follows.
In my third book, I wrote that Pyongyang smacks of a quiet science lab, while Seoul is more like a venue for hilarious gag shows. In Pyongyang, it’s hard to express one’s individuality or originality. People are supposed to live in the strict, monotonous framework set by the Party or the government, so it’s difficult to develop one’s own image. In contrast, diversity is guaranteed in Seoul. Here, people voice their own opinions and create different styles and trends. The two cities are diametrically different.
 Also, Lim notes that few South Koreans use the word “dongmu,” meaning “friend” in North Korea, since South Koreans interpret the word as “comrade,” which takes on communist overtones. He regrets that the beautiful Korean word has been sacrificed at the hands of political ideology and national division. Lim says he faced many difficulties in getting his book published. Most publishers were reluctant to accept the stories of a nameless writer who was a former North Korean defector. He thought about giving up many times, but the courage and strength of his family pulled him through. His new goal is to write books for teenagers and contribute to opening an era of “cultural unification” of the two Koreas.
Even though we’re living in the Internet age or the age of information overflow, we know little about North Korea. I hope to continue working to help teenagers in the two Koreas communicate through culture, because they will lead Korea’s unification some day. Even if we fail to achieve reunification, the next generation or the successive generation should fulfill that goal. So it’s important for the younger generation to understand North Korea correctly. With this in mind, I’m planning to collect a wide variety of information on North Korea and write books for teenagers. |
in
the NK
