This February, there have already been some developments in relations between South and North Korea. The two sides have held this year’s first official dialogue, and speculation is brewing again over an inter-Korean summit. As an indicator of future inter-Korean ties, the two Koreas held working-level talks on the Gaeseong industrial park project on February 1st. Unfortunately, the two sides failed to reach a specific agreement at the grueling talks, which came amid heightening military tension triggered by North Korea’s artillery firing in the West Sea last week. But they did agree to continue discussing pending issues through additional talks. Professor Yu Ho-yeon from the North Korean Studies Department at Korea University evaluates the latest meeting positively since each side took one step back to find a compromise.

During the talks, South Korea insisted that the two sides first improve systems governing border passage, telecommunications and customs clearance and then discuss the creation of a dormitory for North Korean workers and wage hikes. The North Korean side, on the other hand, argued that those issues should be addressed between the military authorities. The North instead wanted to discuss raising the wage for its workers at the Gaeseong Industrial Park. With neither side budging from its own position, the negotiators failed to decide on what to discuss first. But they agreed to discuss the issues about transportation, telecommunications and customs clearance at the working-level military talks. Depending on the result of the talks, they also promised to examine the North’s request later, such as a pay raise and the establishment of a dormitory. Monday’s talks failed to produce a result, but both sides saw eye to eye on the need to solve those problems through additional negotiations. I think this is a hopeful sign of some improvement in future inter-Korean ties.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has hinted at the possibility of a summit with North Korea, raising expectations for another inter-Korean summit. In an interview with British public broadcaster BBC on January 29, President Lee said he thinks he can meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il within this year. Also during an interview with U.S.-based cable news channel CNN the following day, Lee said that the time is approaching for North Korea to answer whether or not it will give up its nuclear program. He even mentioned the possibility of discussing with the North his “grand bargain” initiative, which Pyongyang strongly rejects. Lee’s detailed expression indicates a clear shift from Seoul’s previous theoretical language on an inter-Korean summit. Experts speculate that there has been a specific development in bilateral consultations on this matter. So how far have the discussions advanced?

The government refuses to officially confirm it, but media reports on a third inter-Korean summit are rampant. Also, the government seems to be recognizing it indirectly. Kim Yang-gon, director of North Korea’s Workers Party’s Unification Front Department, who was also included in the North Korean delegation to attend the funeral of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung last August, reportedly held talks with South Korean Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee in Singapore in October last year to discuss an inter-Korean summit. It is assumed that two rounds of high-level working-level contacts were made in Gaeseong in November to fine-tune the potential agenda for a South-North summit. The two sides have yet to reach full agreement on a summit, though.

North Korea watchers say Pyongyang is showing a very active attitude toward a summit with South Korea. Unlike in the past, it is said that there are increasing calls for normalizing inter-Korean ties even inside North Korea. Presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyu said on February 1st that North Korea is presenting a different attitude, adding that the country seems to realize the need for resolve pending inter-Korean issues through normalization of bilateral ties. North Korea is in a desperate need for easing the ongoing economic difficulty. Also, the communist nation seeks a power transfer to current leader Kim Jong-il’s third son Kim Jong-un, while trying hard to achieve the goal of building a “powerful North Korea” in 2012. All things considered, Pyongyang badly needs cooperation from its southern neighbor. Amid the high possibility of an inter-Korean summit, experts are making specific predictions of its date and venue.

North Korea frowns upon an inter-Korean summit in South Korea, because it is extremely wary of the safety of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Seoul can’t just ignore the North’s concern, and it shouldn’t necessarily force North Korea into something it is reluctant to do. Regarding the venue for an inter-Korean summit, South Korea may be more flexible. For instance, the summit could take place in Pyongyang again. Gaeseong, Mt. Geumgang or a third place could be cited as a potential venue. Even if the two sides agree on the agenda, it will take two to three months to set the date. The summit could be held in May or June, but local elections are scheduled around that time. After that, South Korea should prepare for the G20 Summit. Once the two sides reach a compromise on discussion topics, I think mid or late August will be an appropriate time.

The South Korean government is flexible about the date and venue for a third inter-Korean summit. During a nationally televised town hall meeting last November, President Lee said the venue for a possible inter-Korean summit should not necessarily be Seoul. As for the date, the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae doesn’t seem to care whether the summit may be held before or after the June 2nd local elections. Presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyu said in a briefing on February 1st that conditions for a summit, such as the date or financial considerations for North Korea did not matter. Professor Yu explains that the key to the successful inter-Korean summit is, therefore, to coordinate the potential agenda.

Topping the agenda will be a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, as South Korea has doggedly maintained. Other important topics include South Korean prisoners of war and abductees still held in the North, and separated families scattering throughout the divided peninsula. These are urgent issues, indeed, because the victims of the national division will pass away as time goes by. North Korea, for its part, may want to discuss economic development and bilateral cooperation in the form of aid. The six-party nuclear talks, when resumed, are expected to deal with the creation of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. So leaders of South and North Korea could express their opinions about this matter and find a compromise on it during their summit.

Preparations for a possible inter-Korean summit seem to be underway. But South and North Korea are still showing wide differences in their approaches to the summit, due to various and complicated problems, such as nuclear negotiations, the public sentiment inside South Korean society, and the food shortages in the impoverished North. Now is time for both Koreas to show flexibility and come to a compromise on key issues. A third inter-Korean summit should not end up being a mere political stunt.


[Interview] Psychodrama Class for Children from N. Korea
The place is filled with laughter. Children from North Korea are attending a psychodrama class. Before starting the main program, the teacher encourages the students to engage in simple warm-up activities to help them concentrate on the class. Located in Shinwol-dong in the Yangcheon District, western Seoul, the Hanminjok Daean School, an alternative school for defector students from North Korea, offers a psychodrama class once a month. The class is designed for North Korean children aged 15 or younger who have a hard time psychologically adjusting to South Korean society or who still haven’t overcome the emotional shock of escaping their home country. Why did the school choose this particular class as a means of psychotherapy? Here’s Professor Won Su-yeon from the Department of Counseling Psychology at Sejong Cyber University to explain.

In unscripted, impromptu psychodramas, anyone can be a hero or heroine. The children may be reluctant to speak out at first, but they are willing to share their stories if the program host creates a favorable atmosphere. The children can choose any theme they want. If a participant wants to talk about his family, for example, we create a stage set featuring his mom, dad and other family members. Then we encourage him to tell us how he lived in his family, and the family members in the drama show strong support for him. In this process, the child may find a way out of his trouble and his mental wounds are gradually healed. There are many psychotherapeutic approaches, including art therapy and activity therapy, but we decided to choose a psychodrama because it is a very useful tool for healing emotional scars.

Professor Won has conducted this psychodrama class since last November, in the belief that children of North Korean defectors needed more interest and support, with the number of newcomers from the North ever increasing. The professor discovered that many North Korean children had psychological problems, which she had seldom found in their South Korean counterparts, and she was eager to cure them.

Many North Korean defectors are vulnerable to family dissolution due to various problems, including divorce. Some mothers left their children in China but they were reunited with them later in South Korea. Whatever the situation, most defectors have difficulty in acclimating to South Korean society. Economic assistance is provided to them, of course, but I realized they would find it very difficult to resettle in a new environment socially and culturally, unless psychological assistance is offered. I thought those working in the counseling and psychology area, including myself, should take the lead in organizing a network aimed at helping them out psychologically and continue relevant activities.

Professor Won shows deep consideration for the children so they won’t give up without completing their studies. She also stresses that students from North Korea, just like South Korean children, will lead the future of this nation.

We must provide sufficient support to these children who will continue to grow. Many of the defector children speak fluent Chinese because they lived in China for a long time. We could nurture them as global talents. Our ultimate goal is to help them stay healthy, both physically and psychologically, and acclimate to South Korean society successfully so they will become confident members of the society and contribute to Korea’s globalization.

Many of the young defectors from North Korea suffer from tremendous psychological wounds—something unusual for children of their age. Through this psychodrama class, the children will be given the forum to let their emotions out and they will grow into the nation’s future leaders.