Song Young-gil: "McDonald's in Kaesong Industrial Complex, North Korea as the Second Vietnam"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the Aspen Security Forum in the United States on the 4th and proposed rebuilding trust among South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. through the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The Aspen Strategy Group is co-chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Harvard University professor Joseph Nye, and this forum is said to be the largest annual diplomatic and security forum event in the Americas. Due to COVID-19, it was held online.

Leader Song conducted a one-on-one English interview for about 30 minutes with Josh Rogin, a Washington Post foreign affairs and security columnist and CNN political analyst.

Leader Song said, "The Kaesong Industrial Complex is the optimal way to change North Korea and serves as a cornerstone to rebuild trust among South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S.," adding, "The approximately 53,000 North Korean workers employed at the Kaesong Industrial Complex are the most effective means of introducing free market economic thinking and external information into North Korea."

He expressed concern, stating, "Since the closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, North Korea's military and economic dependence on China has gradually increased." He mentioned, "The Kaesong Industrial Complex played a role in mitigating North Korea's dependence on China in the past. Reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex would not only reduce dependence on China but also, if the U.S. invests, it would symbolically indicate that the U.S. will not invade North Korea."

He cited the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises as an example. Leader Song said, "Although the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises are intended to maintain peace and establish readiness, North Korea does not believe this claim," and added, "If McDonald's were to open a branch in the Kaesong Industrial Complex, North Korea would also accept that the joint exercises are defensive military drills."

Meanwhile, regarding the current North Korea-U.S. relations, Song Young-gil referred to the previous Trump administration, saying, "President Trump consistently pointed to preventing North Korean provocations as his diplomatic achievement, but there is an assessment that peace was achieved without any cost," and noted, "Although North Korea has not carried out major provocations under the Biden administration, the worsening economic situation in North Korea means they could resort to provocations at any time. Humanitarian aid should be considered promptly."

He continued, emphasizing, "The best way is to make North Korea a second Vietnam," and stated, "Since Vietnam established diplomatic relations with the U.S., it has played a role in checking China's expansion strategy in Southeast Asia. I think this is an option worth considering for the U.S."

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