Inter-Korean dialogue : negation, reciprocal recognition and stalemates

Partager sur :

On June 2000, the South-Korean President, Kim Dae-jung, and the North-Korean Leader, Kim Jong-il, had a historical meeting in Pyongyang, whose conclusions were most promising : reciprocal recognition, agreement on the way reunification should be conducted, establishment of ministerial meetings on a regular basis (even between the Ministries of Defense) and North Korean engagement on the separate families’ issues. Today, as the September 11 events pressured the United States and a large international coalition for a reinforced vigilance over countries which support or/and practice terrorism, and as Kim Dae-jung’s presidential mandate will end by the end of 2002, one may only deplore the weakness of North Korea’s signals to the South and the vehemence of North Korea’s attitude towards the United States and its Republican President, George W. Bush. In fact, a tiny prospect for a deeper dialogue exists between the two Koreas on the short term. – Summary AFRI-2002