In an about-face from months of conciliatory overtures to South Korea, North Korea has taken a tough stance again, using these aggressive words: “a sacred war of revenge.” In its New Year’s editorial earlier this month, North Korea proclaimed that its stand to improve inter-Korean relations remained unshakable. And the nation had since been committed to better ties with Seoul. But North Korea abruptly changed its friendly attitude on January 15th when a spokesman of the National Defense Commission issued a statement lashing out at the Seoul government’s contingency plan for a possible emergency in North Korea. Pyongyang called it a South Korean ploy to overthrow the North Korean regime and threatened to wage a “holy war of revenge.” Dr. Hong Hyeon-ik from the Sejong Institute notes that it was the first time the National Defense Commission, the most powerful administrative authority in North Korea, issued such statement.

It marked the first time a spokesman of the National Defense Commission issued such a statement targeting South Korea since the 1990s. The provocative statement by the North’s highest administrative and military authority reflects that North Korea is under enormous pressure inside and outside the nation. Domestically, it suffers from the deteriorating economy. Internationally, the North is subject to sanctions, while facing with growing pressure from its ally China. Against this backdrop, Pyongyang seeks to mend relations with Seoul quickly, but South Korea has been rather lukewarm. Feeling impatient and nervous, North Korea seems to have sent what it believes is the strongest message to Seoul.

The statement was all the more embarrassing because it came just two hours after the North Korean Red Cross expressed its intention to accept the 10,000 tons of corn from the South Korean government. Some speculate North Korea has suddenly reverted to a hard-line stance because its pride and confidence in regime maintenance was hurt. In an apparent bid to escalate tension further, North Korea’s state media reported on January 17 that leader Kim Jong-il had watched a massive joint exercise of the army, navy and air forces.

In another first occasion, North Korea reported about Kim Jong-il’s inspection of a joint military exercise. This is interpreted as the nation’s effort to demonstrate that it can execute its statement not only with words, but with action. The contingency plan, reportedly called “Revival,” was jointly drafted by the Unification Ministry and the National Intelligence Service in South Korea to detail what the South would do in case of an emergency in North Korea. Emergency here refers to a public uprising, natural disasters, a military coup or a political vacuum caused by Kim Jong-il’ collapse from his ill health. The contingency plan explains administrative measures needed for these emergency situations, which are classified into three or four categories. It seems that annoyed government officials and high-ranking leaders in North Korea made a highly charged response to this plan.

Diplomatic experts are paying attention to the North’s intention behind its two-way strategy, characterized by appeasement and threat. This year, North Korea began its conciliatory gestures by promising to engage in inter-Korean dialogue through various channels in its New Year’s editorial. On January 11, Pyongyang proposed talks on concluding a peace treaty to replace the Korean War armistice. The North also suggested on January 14 that the two Koreas make a working-level contact to discuss restarting tours to Mt. Geumgang and Gaeseong in North Korea. But the next day, the North threatened to make a retaliatory attack on South Korea. And then on January 18, the North’s official Rodong Shinmun daily reaffirmed the commitment to improving inter-Korean relations, calling for South Korea to make more efforts to that end. The following day, the North participated in an inter-Korean meeting to evaluate the two sides’ joint survey of overseas industrial parks last month. So, why is North Korea sending such mixed signals?

North Korea appears to employ the so-called two-track strategy. That is, the North seeks its own benefits from economic cooperation with South Korea while making it clear that it will take a strong stance in military and security areas, unless the South establishes confidence-building measures. Inside the nation, North Korea finds it necessary to make an aggressive statement regarding military and security issues in order to tighten discipline in the military and provoke antagonism toward South Korea.

The South Korean government doesn’t expect the North to change its previous South Korea policy, so it will continue inter-Korean exchanges as scheduled. Unification Ministry spokesman Cheon Hae-seong said in a briefing on Monday that the government’s view on the humanitarian aid for North Korea remained unchanged and that the government would follow relevant procedures through consultations of involved agencies. Dr. Hong also predicts inter-Korean ties aren’t likely to worsen, but he stresses the importance of the government’s mid-and long-term strategy.

In a two-pronged approach to South Korea, the North uses highly offensive language. It’s hard to even utter such a provocative statement. But we don’t need to respond to it emotionally. A careful analysis shows that North Korea is making its own desperate effort to maintain its regime. South Korea is dozens of times larger than North Korea in terms of economic size and its national power is far superior to that of North Korea. So it’s unnecessary to immediately respond to every single statement issued by Pyongyang. South Korea should instead formulate mid-and long-term strategies aimed at inducing the reclusive northern neighbor to bilateral dialogue and economic cooperation. This will also help facilitate the process of a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.

No matter how the diplomatic situation may develop, it is South and North Korea that should take the lead in tackling the problems on their divided peninsula. North Korea expressed its active will toward dialogue in its New Year’s message. In response, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak mentioned the need for the establishment of an inter-Korean office to have talks on a regular basis in his New Year’s speech. The two sides must keep their respective positive initiatives afloat, based on the principle of mutual respect, co-existence and common prosperity.


[Interview] Charity Concert for N. Korean Women, Children Defectors Overseas
Despite the cold weather, people started to gather in small groups in the Munho Art Hall in Jongro District, downtown Seoul. On the evening of January 15, a very special concert took place there.

I’m Park Su-jin, assistant administrator at the Campaign Team of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights. This is our first New Year’s charity concert dedicated to North Korean women and children who have escaped their home country and now live in foreign countries. China has been beefing up its crackdown on North Korean defectors and many escapees ask for help from us. With close scrutiny, we determine how desperate the defectors are. Each member of the group gives donations, which are used to rescue those unfortunate defectors. Still, many of them are in precarious situations in which they may face a crisis suddenly. We felt the need to raise funds to provide them with help quickly when necessary. That was why we planned this concert.

The collected proceeds from the “New Year’s Concerts for Life, Human Rights, Sharing and Hope” will be used for North Korean defectors overseas, especially women and children. Considering that women account for 80 percent of the 20-thousand North Korean newcomers who have entered South Korea, the human rights group believes women and children comprise the majority of North Korean defectors wandering in China or in third world countries. Here again is Ms. Park.

Women and children defectors from North Korea need prompt assistance, since they are exposed to the danger of human trafficking. So we’re focused on saving people in this particular group. Trafficked for labor exploitation, they go through an incredible amount of emotional pain. Assisting them to reach South Korea, if they want, is perhaps the best way to help them out. The proceeds from this charity concert will be added to our relief fund for overseas North Korean defectors and then spent for salvaging such fugitives suffering hardships in China or in other countries.

A number of musicians, both from Korea and abroad, took part in the concert to give hope to defectors overseas. Among others, the most attention-grabbing musician was pianist Kim Cheol-woong a North Korean defector.

I participated in this concert as the publicity ambassador. As a former North Korean defector myself, I was willing to take part in the event to help my fellow North Korean expatriates, though only in a small way. I hope this concert will give the audience members a more profound insight into music and help them learn more about North Korea. I do hope they will realize North Koreans aren’t any different from South Korean people and appreciate North Korean music. The collected funds will be used to bring some North Korean defectors to South Korea. But if you imagine the donations will eventually be used for the future reunification of Korea, rather than simply helping other people, you will have no regret about the money you donate.

Kim graduated from the Pyongyang Music and Dance College at the top of his class. He attended the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and served as the premier pianist at the Pyongyang Philharmonic Orchestra. But the promising musician defected to South Korea in 2003 because he wanted to play the piano freely. Kim has since expanded his music career in the South, performing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and participating in various other music events. He has also taken the lead in supporting North Korean newcomers resettling here in the South. During the recent concert, Kim played North Korean folk music and the popular Korean folk song Arirang, which he newly arranged himself. Kim’s Arirang was played in the middle of the concert, bringing together not only North Korean defectors but also the South Korean audiences. The concert was more than just a charity event for collecting donations. It is believed to have provided truly a meaningful opportunity for South Korean citizens to better understand their brothers and sisters from North Korea and to advance the cause of unification.