Taeyoungho, on the 'Warm Breeze' in Inter-Korean Relations: "Who Will Solve the North Korean Nuclear Issue?"

Tae Young-ho, Member of the People Power Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] On the 28th, Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, raised his voice saying, "A cool-headed judgment is necessary on who benefits from the 'warm breeze' that has started to blow again in inter-Korean relations," emphasizing the lack of interest from the parties involved in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

Tae, a former North Korean diplomat, wrote on his Facebook on the same day, "Kim Jong-il proposed the 'Zhapalgye Diplomacy Theory,' which means 'if you can only look out for your own interests, deceive the enemy with a soft exterior and a strong interior,' and overcame crises by receiving hundreds of thousands of tons of food and heavy oil from the U.S. through the U.S.-North Korea Geneva nuclear agreement," he said.

He continued, "In the 68th anniversary speech of the 'Korean War Armistice Agreement,' unlike last year, Kim Jong-un did not mention the 'self-defensive nuclear deterrent enhancement' or the 'grudge of the Nakdong River' that had to be swallowed with tears," adding, "This can be interpreted as North Korea gradually preparing for dialogue from now on."

He went on, "It is obvious which political force would benefit from inter-Korean summits or dialogue events during the presidential election period," and pointed out, "We cannot rule out the possibility that North Korea will use our political schedule of the presidential election as leverage to demand food or COVID-19 vaccine support and solidify its status as a nuclear power through the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism."

Furthermore, he lamented, "U.S. interest is focused on China, and recently mentions of the North Korean nuclear issue have decreased," saying, "North Korea gains practical benefits through dialogue, the government and ruling party use the inter-Korean card to recreate their regime, the U.S. focuses on China, so then who will solve the North Korean nuclear issue?"

Tae concluded, "Even in the face of the reality of an enhanced North Korean nuclear arsenal, the government and ruling party are pushing for the ratification of the Panmunjom Declaration by the National Assembly within the year and a resolution urging a declaration of the end of the war," adding, "It is astonishing to think that the father's 'Zhapalgye diplomacy' still works for the son."

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