Is the Appearance of North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui a Green Light or a Red Light for North Korea-US Relations?

Choe Son-hui, the new North Korean Foreign Minister.

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] Since North Korea appointed Choe Son-hui, a representative 'U.S. expert,' as the new Foreign Minister on the 11th, attention has been focused on whether there will be any policy changes. While some analyze that North Korea is trying to resume North Korea-U.S. negotiations by appointing a U.S. specialist, voices suggesting that the appointment of a figure who does not hesitate to deliver 'harsh criticism' to the U.S. indicates North Korea's tough diplomatic policy stance are also gaining traction. In this regard, the Ministry of Unification stated, "It is difficult to see the replacement of a specific person as necessarily linked to changes in North Korea's foreign policy."

Choe Son-hui, the first female Foreign Minister of North Korea, is regarded as a leading figure in North Korea's diplomacy toward the U.S. and an expert in nuclear negotiations. She is the adopted daughter of Choe Yong-rim, a close aide to Kim Il-sung and former Premier, and has held various key government positions. She was in charge of interpretation duties at the North American Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and played a significant role in nuclear negotiations conducted from the Bill Clinton administration through the George W. Bush administration, including the Six-Party Talks. Later, she served as deputy director and director of the North American Bureau, reportedly conducting long-term two-track meetings (semi-official and behind-the-scenes negotiations) with U.S. officials.

In particular, Choe Son-hui played a central role in leading the North Korea-U.S. summits in 2018 and 2019. After being promoted to First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2018, she attracted attention by issuing blunt statements criticizing the U.S. whenever tensions rose. About 20 days before the first summit in 2018, she called then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence a "politically foolish idiot," nearly causing the talks to collapse. She also represented North Korea in the media when the 2019 North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, failed.

The appointment of Choe Son-hui, a hardline U.S. expert, as Foreign Minister is seen as reflecting an intention to apply the 'strong against strong' principle to diplomacy as well. At the plenary meeting of the Central Committee where the personnel reshuffle was decided, Kim Jong-un emphasized the "strong-against-strong, direct confrontation struggle principle" of the Workers' Party and reportedly hinted at strengthening nuclear forces to defend national sovereignty. This is why analysts predict that North Korea will respond with a tough diplomatic strategy amid repeated military provocations and regional opposition to the planned seventh nuclear test.

Some speculate that the appointment of Choe Son-hui, the first person specializing in U.S. diplomacy to be promoted to Foreign Minister, signals the full-scale resumption of North Korea-U.S. negotiations. After former President Moon's September declaration of the end of the war last year, Choe was excluded from the State Affairs Commission, leading to dominant analyses that North Korea adopted a Tongnam Paemi (通南排美, "engaging South Korea while excluding the U.S.") strategy. Her reinstatement as Foreign Minister is interpreted as indicating North Korea's intention to engage with the U.S. again.

Experts' analyses of North Korea's intentions differ. Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, said in an interview with North Korea specialist media NK News on the 11th (local time), "It means returning to a normal order where North Korea-U.S. relations and inter-Korean relations are handled separately," adding, "Choe Son-hui and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman know each other well. If they agree, they can definitely negotiate." Tae Yong-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker who served as North Korea's envoy to the UK, wrote on his Facebook on the 12th, "Kim Jong-un's personnel move seems like 'warming up for negotiations.' It should be seen as a strategic intention to shift from a 'strong-against-strong confrontation' to a dialogue phase."

On the other hand, Kim Jong-dae, a former Justice Party lawmaker and military/security expert who served on the National Assembly's Defense Committee, analyzed on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 13th, "She has been a key figure in hardline diplomacy toward the West and South Korea. This appointment is a deployment to diplomatically support the strong-against-strong confrontation that Kim Jong-un has announced." An anonymous Asia expert warned in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) on the 11th (local time), "Although Choe Son-hui has much experience communicating with the U.S., that does not mean she will cooperate with the U.S."

South Korea and the U.S. are closely monitoring North Korea's moves and strengthening cooperation on North Korea. After meeting with Cho Hyun-dong, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the 7th, Deputy Secretary Sherman warned, "If a nuclear test occurs, not only South Korea, the U.S., and Japan but the entire world will respond strongly and decisively." The two countries plan to discuss their response to North Korea's seventh nuclear test at the South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for the 13th (local time) in Washington.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.