The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Disgraced ex-minister's daughter says she feels proud, qualified as a doctor

  • 3

    Coupang reveals Asia's largest fulfillment center in Daegu

  • 5

    Ex-gov't employee summarily indicted for alleged attempt to sell Jungkook's lost hat

  • 7

    Tiger endures 3 years of solitary confinement in closed zoo

  • 9

    Netflix survival show 'Physical 100' attracts viewers with sweat, muscle and human story

  • 11

    Rescuers race against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,000

  • 13

    Ex-justice minister, daughter blamed for unrepentant attitude over academic fraud

  • 15

    Apple confirms launch of Apple Pay in Korea

  • 17

    Seoul narrows in on new slogan

  • 19

    Turkey-Syria quake toll tops 11,000 as rescuers battle cold

  • 2

    Singer Lee Seung-gi to marry actor Lee Da-in in April

  • 4

    SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing

  • 6

    'Celebrity forests' emerge as new K-pop trend in Seoul

  • 8

    Seoul city zeroes in on foreign residents' unpaid taxes

  • 10

    Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga

  • 12

    Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air

  • 14

    SM founder Lee Soo-man returns home, in hospital to treat arm fracture

  • 16

    INTERVIEW'Korea, US can create synergy in space industry': NASA ambassador

  • 18

    PHOTOSTurkey-Syria earthquake

  • 20

    Chainsaw Fest set to rip apart Club SHARP

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Thu, February 9, 2023 | 12:18
Editorial
Winds of Change
Posted : 2009-01-28 17:51
Updated : 2009-01-28 17:51
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Seoul Should Catch New Signals in Regional Diplomacy

Though not certain yet, subtle signs are being detected, heralding a new diplomatic climate around the Korean Peninsula these days.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, while meeting with a senior Chinese official last week, reiterated his commitment to removing nuclear weapons from the peninsula while maintaining peace with his neighbors.

Kim seems to have wanted to convey a couple of messages through this act. Most of all, the 67-year-old, who reportedly suffered a stroke around August, tried to demonstrate he is well enough and ready to discuss the issues of denuclearization and normalization with U.S. President Barack Obama, or the latter's special envoy. If Washington remains aloof and detached, however, Pyongyang could rely more on Beijing as a regional leader, he seemed to be saying.

But the North Korean leader's signal of appeasement contradicts the isolationist regime's earlier calls for ``denuclearization through diplomatic normalization'' with the United States, let alone its hostile rhetoric of an ``all-out confrontation posture against South Korea."

This is a vintage North Korean diplomatic offensive on the basis of a two-fronts tactic, aimed at driving a wedge between Seoul and Washington and between hawks and doves in both capitals.

A U.S. State Department spokesman just said Kim's remarks were a ``good thing,'' and the six-party framework ``has merit.'' Nor did Hillary Clinton's first official comment on North Korea as secretary of state Tuesday go much further than reaffirming the previous U.S. commitment to ``existing multilateral talks and bilateral talks within the current six-nation arrangement.''

But Clinton did not forget to say, ``We're going to pursue steps that we think are effective.'' This, along with the fact she left room for bilateral talks with North Korea, suggests there could be some form of direct communication between Washington and Pyongyang. It also is line with President Obama's inaugural address, in which he said, ``We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.''

Diplomatic analysts say the new Democratic administration would remain unchanged in its diplomatic goal of nonproliferation as well as in its principle of clear, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, but far more flexible and reasonable in the process toward reaching that objective, meaning both carrots and sticks could be far bolder than before and their mix would be far more diverse.

This is a far cry from the denuclearization-first policy of the former George Bush administration, to which President Lee Myung-bak and his government still stick to. President Lee, by naming a professor who formulated his North Korea policy based on demanding Pyongyang's concessions as new unification minister, showed his will to maintain a consumptive tug-of-war, which has been dragging on since he took office a year ago.

To the eyes of third-country observers, both South and North Korea can hardly be free from blame for being mired in petty one-upmanship diplomacy, while commonly begging for Washington to be on their respective sides.

Pyongyang should put what it says into action, while Seoul ought to show some magnanimity and tolerance toward what it thinks as its inferior rival in both political and economic terms.

If things continue like now, Koreas could soon turn away from each other in multilateral forums, becoming the laughing stock of other participants. Seoul is far better positioned to change this situation and it should do so while it can.
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga
2[PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake PHOTOSTurkey-Syria earthquake
3Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession
4[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund' INTERVIEW'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'
5SM's management dispute to benefit KakaoSM's management dispute to benefit Kakao
6National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy
7Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market
8SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price
9[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change INTERVIEWVeteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change
10Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
2SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
3The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
4Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air
5K-pop stars and dating K-pop stars and dating
DARKROOM
  • [PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake

    [PHOTOS] Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group