As long as North Korea's denuclearization does not make progress, there can be no easing of sanctions against the country nor large-scale economic cooperation with it. The administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in should face this reality squarely and reexamine its excessively conciliatory policy toward the North.
A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for a project to link railways and roads between South and North Korea. Severe U.N. Security Council sanctions have been imposed on the North over its nuclear and missile development. Full-scale construction work cannot be launched unless the sanctions are lifted, following the resolution of the issue.
Pyongyang has yet to ascertain whether it is even possible to procure the funds needed to renovate railways that have become superannuated. Despite this, the South was adamant about holding a groundbreaking ceremony and managed to obtain approval from the United States, which had shown reluctance, among other countries.
It has become almost impossible to realize before the end of this year a visit to Seoul by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, and a declaration of an end to the Korean War, two objectives the South has hoped to achieve. Moon might have attached importance to holding a groundbreaking ceremony with a view to showcasing the advancement of North-South relations at home.
Speaking at the ceremony, South Korea's land, infrastructure and transport minister said that the project "is hoped to mark a first step toward ending 70 years of separation."
A North Korea vice railway minister said that the accomplishment of the project "depends on the will of all Korean people." He flatly said that "unification [of the Koreas] cannot be achieved if we are nervous about the response of others." He might have been trying to shake up the South by indicating that economic cooperation should be advanced regardless of U.S. intentions.
Lack of policy coordination
The ceremony was attended by delegates from China, Russia and Mongolia, but no officials from Japan or the United States took part. This reveals the fact that Tokyo and Washington have cast a cold eye over the project.
It cannot be overlooked that Moon has neglected efforts for policy coordination with the United States.
At the North-South summit in September, Seoul agreed with Pyongyang -- without obtaining prior approval from Washington -- to suspend military exercises near the military demarcation line, set flight ban areas and dismantle some guard posts. The South applauded the agreement as a measure to ease tensions, but a drop in the quick response capabilities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance is a matter of concern.
Washington and Seoul have established a working group to coordinate policy vis-a-vis the North. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that North Korea's denuclearization should not be "lagging behind the increase in the relationship between the two Koreas." The Moon administration must accept this seriously.
The South has repeated insincere responses in its relations with Tokyo, too.
In connection with the recent incident in which a South Korean Navy destroyer allegedly used a fire-control radar on a P-1 patrol plane of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Defense Ministry of Japan has released video footage of what happened at the scene. The ministry claims that the video is evidence backing up its argument in the case.
The South should sincerely explain what led to the incident and work out measures to prevent a recurrence.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2018)
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