Former Minister Kim Yeon-cheol: "US Election to North Korea's 8th Party Congress, the Most Important Period"

"In a transitional situation, future outcomes may vary depending on the policies of the Korean government"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] An analysis has emerged that the transitional period from the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November until North Korea's 8th Party Congress in January next year is a very important time for inter-Korean relations.

Former Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-cheol appeared on MBC Radio’s Kim Jong-bae’s Focus on the 12th and said, “For North Korea to hold the Party Congress in January next year, it needs to evaluate the current situation and organize its strategic direction,” adding, “The recent military parade seems to indicate an intention to generally manage the situation.”

It is analyzed that although North Korea needs test launches to deploy new weapons such as the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in actual combat, there is a possibility of managing the situation given the numerous external variables such as the U.S. presidential election. North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un stated in his speech at the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea on the 10th, “I absolutely do not want our military power to be aimed at anyone.”

Former Minister Kim further diagnosed that the efforts of our government from after the U.S. presidential election until North Korea’s Party Congress in January next year are more important than ever. He emphasized that regardless of who becomes the U.S. president, more active efforts by our government, the party involved, are crucial to resume the long-stalled South-North-U.S. talks.

Kim said, “The results may vary depending on what policies our government adopts during this transitional period,” and “Depending on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, it may be possible to create an opportunity to start various negotiations anew.”

Regarding Chairman Kim Jong-un’s conciliatory message about inter-Korean relations after the COVID-19 crisis, he evaluated that there is no need for overinterpretation. Former Minister Kim said, “President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong-un exchanged letters in March and September, and the expressions in those letters are similar,” adding, “There is probably no need to overinterpret it.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.