From the Yomuiri Shimbun: Seoul's Pyongyang policy at crossroads / Visit puts Roh's conciliatory approach toward North Korea under the microscope.

     Can the summit talks between North and South Korean leaders, which started Tuesday in Pyongyang, lay the foundation for real progress on alleviating international concern about North Korea's nuclear programs? Can the three-day summit meeting ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula?

     South Korea's diplomacy vis-a-vis Pyongyang switched abruptly from the conventional confrontational approach to that of reconciliation or cooperation under the administration of former President Kim Dae Jung, who pursued the "sunshine" or "engagement" policy.

     Kim's successor, Roh Moo-hyun, championed the "policy for peace and prosperity" to further develop Kim's reconciliation strategy. Roh's initiative calls for the resolution of problems through dialogue, and seeks a spirit of mutual trust and reciprocity. In concrete terms, Roh has sought to find a peaceful solution to the dispute over denuclearization of North Korea through large-scale economic cooperation and assistance, thereby trying to foster the prosperity of both Koreas.

     With the inter-Korean summit now underway all anyone can now do is to wait and see what is anounced as each day of the meeting ends.  The powerlessness is frustrating in the extreme.  Whatever president Roh has decided is now effectively set in stone and immune to the criticism of the South Korean Media and public.  And of that there continues to be plenty of.

From the Chosun Ilbo: A Message to President Roh.

     President Roh Moo-hyun walked across the Military Demarcation Lline at around 9 a.m. this morning. Roh is scheduled to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang and announce a joint statement tomorrow.

     This summit is a peculiar and special meeting. The president has set out to hold a summit whose consequences will have a decisive effect on the future of his country, at a time when he has just two months left in office and when his approval rating hovers in the 20 percent range. This is unheard of even between the United States and the Soviet Union and between East and West Germany during the Cold War.

     The only condition under which the U.S. and West Germany were willing to hold such meetings was if the president who was to attend that meeting had ample time left in his term and the solid support of his people. That’s the only way the president would not be pushed around in negotiations and was able to protect the long-term interests of his people.

     Perhaps it is due to these concerns that the majority of South Koreans would prefer the summit to pass without any problems than talks to lead to a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations. As he goes to North Korea, the president should contemplate the wishes of his people deeply.

My previous thoughts on this issue here and here.

Additional Links to Comentary and News Stories about the summit:

7 Thorny Issues for the Inter-Korean Summit.

The Inter-Korean Summit and Our Choices.

A Declaration Alone Cannot Guarantee Peace.

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