China and North Korea are strengthening efforts to resume the six-party nuclear talks, raising speculation about a major shift in the ongoing tension in regional diplomacy triggered by the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan in late March. China’s Foreign Ministry said in its web page that Wu Dawei, China’s special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs, visited North Korea for three days from August 16 to discuss ways to reconvene the six-party talks. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wu met with senior officials in Pyongyang, including Foreign Minister Park Ui-chun, Workers’ Party International Department Director Kim Yong-il and Vice Foreign Minister and top nuclear envoy Kim Kye-gwan. According to the Kyodo News Agency of Japan, Wu said that North Korea had agreed on the prompt resumption of the six-way talks, which would proceed in three stages: discussions between North Korea and the United States, an unofficial meeting of chief representatives to the six-party talks and finally the formal talks. Jeon Hyeon-jun at the Korea Institute for National Unification says China seems to be taking specific action in order to ease tension on the Korean Peninsula following the South Korea-U.S. joint military drill and move forward from the aftermath of the Cheonan incident.

It appears that China has embarked on a full-fledged effort to reconvene the six-party talks. For Beijing, worsening relations with the U.S. won’t be helpful in gaining an upper hand in Northeast Asia security issues. Relations with South Korea have continued aggravating following the Cheonan disaster and the subsequent U.N. Security Council’s adoption of a presidential statement. The recent North Korea visit by a Chinese delegation shows that Beijing is intent on seeking peace and stability in the region by all means and is therefore preparing for a so-called exit strategy from the Cheonan issue. China is active in resuming the six-party nuclear talks with the belief that the multilateral dialogue would be a useful means of maximizing its own interest involving Korean Peninsula issues.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency also confirmed on August 20 that a Chinese delegation led by Wu Dawei visited Pyongyang to hold discussions with North Korean officials, stressing that the two sides reached a full consensus of views on the resumption of the six-party talks and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. Some interpret the comments as a sign indicating a change in North Korea’s previous position.

It was North Korea that left the six-party talks, but it is now hoping to return to the meeting swiftly in order to get out of the Cheonan incident and escape strong international sanctions. Recent reports say North Korea had a bad harvest, while the nation was struck by severe flood damage of late. North Korea has every reason to turn the situation around and take a conciliatory approach, because it has to cope with internal difficulties. Also, China is strongly urging Pyongyang to rejoin the six-party talks. North Korea seems to have concluded that it would be better to resume the talks quickly to receive economic assistance from China at least.

Regarding the active movements of China and North Korea to reopen the six-party talks, Washington’s response isn’t entirely negative. Shortly after North Korea announced Wu Dawei’s Pyongyang visit, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said there were specific actions to be taken by North Korea to create an appropriate environment for progress on the six-party talks. The remarks apparently point to the need for North Korea to take a responsible attitude, specifically by making an apology for attacking the Cheonan warship. But the U.S. did not directly mention the “Cheonan,” leaving room for discussions on future six-party talks. However, most experts say it would take a dramatic shift in the diplomatic mood to restore the six-party talks.

North Korea and China will find it hard to control the six-party talks as they wish, unless South Korea, Japan and the U.S. express their determination to resume the talks. South Korea will host the Group of 20 Summit in November, while the U.S. will hold a midterm election in the same month. With this political schedule in mind, the two countries will certainly calculate advantages and disadvantages. However, considering the strong handed move by China, the host country of the six-party talks, and North Korea, the party directly involved in denuclearization, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. can’t insist on North Korea’s apology for the Cheonan incident forever. I think the recent efforts by North Korea and China to resume the negotiations will provide some momentum in creating a favorable mood for multilateral dialogue, but not right now. I imagine involved countries will take the first step toward the resumption of the talks in October at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Chinese chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei is scheduled to visit the involved countries, starting with South Korea today, August 26. During his stay in Seoul, Wu is expected to brief South Korean officials on the result of his North Korea visit and discuss the need for an exit strategy for the Cheonan issue as well as ways to restart the six-party talks promptly. But diplomatic experts predict that the Seoul government won’t agree on the resumption of the talks unless North Korea takes responsible measures related to the Cheonan incident and takes specific actions aimed at denuclearization. Mr. Jeon stresses that the attitudes of South and North Korea are among the most important factors for reaching a breakthrough in the resumption of the six-way talks.

As the first step, North Korea should apologize for its torpedo attack on the Cheonan frigate, but it’s unclear whether the North will actually take an about-face on this issue. At least, North Korea must clarify its commitment to disabling its nuclear facilities. That is, North Korea should demonstrate its sincerity. South Korea, the victim of the Cheonan disaster, is very upset right now. However, international politics tend to be subject to national interests of major powers. For example, China and the U.S. could work out an exit strategy through highly calculated dialogue. It’s important for Seoul to carefully examine the move by China and the U.S. in an effort to pursue its own practical interest.

China has begun operating “shuttle diplomacy” for the resumption of the six-party talks in a bid to actively mediate between the involved countries, while North Korea is demonstrating a shift in stance. We hope the latest diplomatic move will proceed in a way to ease regional confrontation and restore peace and stability in this part of the world.



[Interview] Concert Designed to Help N. Korean Teenage Defectors
In the afternoon on Sunday, August 15, a storm of applause and great excitement filled the Inchon Memorial Hall of Korea University in Seoul. Despite the sizzling midsummer heat, the hall was full of spectators hoping to watch the “August 15th Beautiful Dream Concert,” held to raise funds to assist teenage defectors from North Korea. Planned by the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, the concert was more than just a fund-raising event but served as a meaningful venue for instilling courage and confidence in the young defectors from the North, and encouraging the public to adopt a more accurate view of the newcomers. Let’s meet with the group’s assistant administrator, Park Su-jin.

Teenage North Korean defectors need various support measures in order to resettle in South Korea successfully. This concert is designed to raise funds needed for those support measures. I imagine the most difficult thing the North Korean youngsters have to handle is prejudice. This event is also aimed at helping the South Korean public cast away such prejudice and seeking harmony between South Korean citizens and North Korean teenagers.

Now in its fourth year, the annual concert was joined by a host of musicians to deliver a hopeful message to the young North Korean students. Clarinetist Lee Sang-jae, a blind professor, and pianist Kim Gyeong-min who has cerebral palsy, showcased their beautiful music to inspire the defectors with their passion and confidence gained in the course of overcoming their physical disability and becoming artists. Other performers, including baritone singer Lee Gyu-seok and soprano Goh Mi-hyeon, presented a fabulous stage that the North Korean audiences had seldom experienced before.

Hi, there. I’m soprano Goh Mi-hyeon. I feel highly honored to participate in a meaningful concert like this to share our warm hearts with one another. These teenagers are our hope and dream. They should foster not only knowledge but also build their characters through more access to culture and art. Having lived in a cold and unfriendly environment, many of them are not very familiar with warm-hearted relationships. I’d like to give help and encouragement to them in the cultural and art field.

The event also featured a video telling the story of a teenage defector who felt lost in the early stage of resettlement but is now dreaming of becoming a painter with the help of many people around him. All the funds raised from the event will be spent on support programs for North Korean teenagers.

Each year, we usually collect some 10 million won from this annual concert. The money is used for Hangyeore School for North Korean defectors, camp programs for nurturing the students’ leadership and various other aid programs. Hangyeore School, for example, offers two-week or three-week camp programs in summer and winter vacations to provide various kinds of training to North Korean students. Many of the newcomers lose confidence because they lag far behind their South Korean counterparts in terms of academic ability. These camp programs are aimed at offering education to meet the proper level of the North Korean students and instilling a sense of self-confidence in them.

The highlight of this event was the “Dream-Plus Chorus” joined by teenagers from South and North Korea. Although their practice session was short, the young students from the two Koreas were able to learn the true meaning of unity, while practicing singing together. Their precious experience made this event all the more meaningful, and the concert brought together the audience members and the students in beautiful harmony.

Here’s hoping that this concert will help South Korean citizens eliminate any prejudice against teenagers from North Korea and create a hopeful society where South and North Koreans mingle together.