'UN General Assembly Hopes for Peace Message Between South and North Korea' from Blue House... Will North Korea Join the Dialogue?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea at the State Department, visited South Korea last month and expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea, but North Korea has remained unresponsive. The Blue House also expressed a desire for both Koreas to simultaneously deliver a peace message at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, but it remains uncertain whether North Korea will come to the negotiating table.

North Korea has not responded to communications via the inter-Korean liaison line since October 10, citing the joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises, and has continued to remain unresponsive as of the 4th.

Moreover, despite Kim’s visit to South Korea last month where he mentioned 'humanitarian aid consultations' and expressed willingness for dialogue with North Korea, Pyongyang has not officially responded to this.

Neither the party propaganda media such as the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun, nor Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, have issued any separate messages toward the U.S. or South Korea at the recent expanded Political Bureau meeting. According to Rodong Sinmun, Kim presided over the expanded Political Bureau meeting on the 2nd, focusing discussions mainly on domestic issues such as strengthening national epidemic prevention measures, preparing for natural disasters, and increasing agricultural production.

This year marks the meaningful 30th anniversary of the simultaneous admission of both Koreas to the United Nations, and the Blue House aims to bring about a turning point in inter-Korean relations in line with this timing. President Moon Jae-in also stated in his New Year's address this year, "This year marks the 30th anniversary of the simultaneous admission of South and North Korea to the UN," adding, "The Koreas must join hands and prove together that peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula benefit the international community."

It has not yet been decided whether President Moon will attend the UN General Assembly in New York on the 21st in person, but if he does, there is a high possibility he will deliver a message related to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Blue House has also expressed the intention for both Koreas to simultaneously issue a peace message. A Blue House official said, "We always hope that, if possible, South and North Korea can simultaneously send messages related to peace on the Korean Peninsula on such international diplomatic stages."

However, it is uncertain whether North Korea will respond to dialogue. Experts point out that North Korea views the U.S.'s proposals for 'dialogue without preconditions' and 'diplomatic engagement' as mere hypocrisy to conceal its aggressive intentions, and without new cards beyond this, North Korea lacks incentives to come to the negotiating table. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said, "Ultimately, the initiative to solve the problem lies with the stronger party, the U.S.," and added, "Rhetoric such as 'the door to dialogue is open' and 'dialogue without preconditions' is meaningless on its own."

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