Involved countries of the six-party nuclear talks have engaged in a series of dialogues in search of a breakthrough in the North Korean nuclear issue. Chief nuclear negotiators from the two Koreas met for their second denuclearization talks in Beijing on September 21, two months after the first such meeting in Bali in July. At the inter-Korean talks last week, delegations from the two sides held two discussion sessions—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—but the three hours of negotiations did not produce a concrete conclusion, as the negotiators failed to narrow their differing views. North Korea insisted on the unconditional resumption of the six-party talks, while the South Korean side demanded that North Korea take preliminary measures to back up its denuclearization before restarting the multilateral talks. According to Professor Kim Geun-sik at Kyungnam University, the recent inter-Korean talks ended without a specific outcome but still contributed toward keeping the momentum for inter-Korean dialogue alive.

South and North Korea held talks last week to discuss preliminary denuclearization steps, but no significant agreement was made during the talks. Some speculate that North Korea attended the second inter-Korean meeting as a simple formality to move toward dialogue with the U.S., as it did at the first round of talks. Even so, it is still significant that the two Koreas sat at the dialogue table twice to discuss denuclearization efforts. Amid the stalled relations between South and North Korea, the denuclearization talks could help improve the diplomatic mood in the region, which is a positive development.

Both delegations assessed the meeting positively. North Korea’s vice foreign minister and chief nuclear envoy Ri Yong-ho said that the North and South had constructive and useful conversations, adding that his country would make efforts to resume the six-party talks quickly and without preconditions. Ri’s South Korean counterpart Wi Sung-lac also said that the two sides discussed the overall nuclear issue and that dialogue like this is considered part of efforts to resume the six-party talks, pledging to continue to make such efforts. Judging from their remarks, experts expect that a third round of inter-Korean denuclearization talks may take place sooner or later. Now that the inter-Korean dialogue is over, additional negotiations for reconvening the six-party talks will likely proceed at the future North Korea-U.S. meeting. Currently, the U.S. is discussing ways to hold another round of talks with North Korea with other involved countries. A fresh round of North Korea-U.S. dialogue could be held in a city in a third country, like Singapore, Berlin or Geneva, rather than Pyongyang or New York. Attention is now being drawn to what the two sides will discuss at their future talks.

South and North Korea expressed differing views at their latest meeting, and this gap in opinion will likely remain in North Korea-U.S. dialogue. The U.S. strongly urges North Korea to take three preliminary denuclearization steps—to halt its uranium enrichment program, allow inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to return to North Korea and declare a moratorium on its nuclear and missile tests. The U.S. is expected to remain consistent in its demands, while North Korea will likely call for a swift resumption of the six-party talks without preconditions, as it has insisted since late last year.

Diplomatic experts predict that North Korea may suggest a compromise plan, in which the uranium enrichment program issue will be discussed at the six-party talks, while North Korea will accept the IAEA inspection team again and declare a moratorium on its nuclear and missile tests.

The key is how extensively North Korea yields to the demands made by South Korea and the U.S., namely, the three preliminary steps for denuclearization. The core of the three measures is the suspension of North Korea’s uranium enrichment program. North Korea doggedly refuses to accept the demand until the six-party talks reconvene. Even during negotiations with the U.S., it won’t be easy for North Korea to agree to a halt of its uranium enrichment program, which is in operation now, before resuming the six-party talks. But there is room to negotiate the other issues—the return of international inspectors to North Korea and a suspension of nuclear and missile tests—since it is possible to make verbal promises to agree on these issues. North Korea may seek to draw the U.S. to the negotiation table by making concessions on these issues, in order to form a favorable dialogue atmosphere and facilitate the resumption of the six-party talks.

Some analysts point out the possibility that North Korea may promise to take preliminary denuclearization steps, including the suspension of its uranium enrichment program. The U.S., in turn, would be more committed to improving relations with North Korea, through measures such as providing food aid. If North Korea and the U.S. reach an agreement on the thorny issue of the uranium enrichment program somehow, experts predict that the six-party talks could resume within the year.

It is anybody’s guess as to whether the six-party talks will actually restart. South Korea and the U.S. made strong demands of North Korea for resuming the six-party talks after Pyongyang’s two military provocations against the South last year. So, nobody is sure whether all the obstacles will be removed and the negotiations will finally resume. On a positive note, however, the U.S., North and South Korea, and even China have shared the view on the need for holding the multilateral nuclear talks since early this year. As a result, involved countries are busy making diplomatic efforts to reconvene the negotiations, with inter-Korean talks and North Korea-U.S. dialogue underway. If North Korea takes a turnaround approach on its position, even if very slightly, and if South Korea and the U.S. make some concessions, the six-party talks may resume before the end of the year to help ease tension on the Korean Peninsula and arrange the framework for dialogue once again. I think we must not give up hope.

North Korea and China insist on the unconditional resumption of the six-party talks. In the U.S., the 2012 election campaign will begin in earnest from the end of this year, while the South Korean government is eager to approach North Korea-related issues more flexibly. So, the possibility of resuming the six-party talks seems higher than ever before. Professor Kim stresses that now is time for involved countries to play more active roles in restarting the negotiations quickly.

Unlike last year, the atmosphere and conditions for the resumption of the six-party talks were formed this year. South Korea and the U.S. are demanding something from North Korea. By the same token, North Korea is asking for something from the U.S. The countries should make small concessions in order to find common ground and eventually resume the six-party talks. I hope North Korea and the U.S. will make efforts to reach an agreement on the resumption of the talks through mutual concessions. The Lee Myung-bak government in Seoul must inform the U.S. of its exact position on inter-Korean relations so it can contribute to laying the diplomatic foundations for reconvening the six-party talks.

Following the second round of inter-Korean denuclearization talks, diplomatic efforts to resume the six-party talks are gaining traction again. The eyes of the diplomatic arena are now turning to North Korea-U.S. dialogue. As Professor Kim explained, involved countries should make step by step progress through steady efforts in order to reconvene the six-party talks as early as possible.


[Interview] Choir Brings Together Women from Both Sides of Border
On a weekend afternoon in September, members of a choir are rehearsing at a church in Daehakro, northern Seoul, under the baton of their music director. This is Yeoulim Choir, consisting of 15 South Korean women and 15 women defectors from North Korea. The singing group was launched in May this year by the Women’s Human Rights Defenders, a local organization dedicated to supporting North Korean women defectors. Here’s Choi Young-ae, representative of the organization, to tell us about the purpose of the choir.

We thought singing together would best serve the purpose of our organization. Each singer has her own voice and singing method, but the choir members can create harmony by practicing singing together over and over again. In that process, they can communicate with one another. In this respective, I believe the choir project proved successful. The members have become close friends now.

The Korean word “Yeoulim” means “harmony of women, harmony of sound.” The choir features different age groups from those in their 20s to 60-somethings, and their occupations vary, ranging from public servants and teachers to housewives and students. It wasn’t easy for the choir to take root. It took time for the members to open their minds and understand one another. They had to make great efforts to take time out of their busy schedule and get together every other week, rehearsing for hours. After four months of strenuous efforts and practices, the members were able to create harmony of their own and sing together beautifully in front of audiences. The “Arirang Medley,” among other songs, pulled at the heartstrings of many people.

Arirang is truly a beautiful song. The folk song brings Korean people together, whether they live in South or North Korea. When we sang during an Anglican Church event, we saw the audiences crying. When we reached one part of Arirang without accompaniment, the audience members began to sing along with us. We were choked up with emotion. It was an overwhelming moment.

Early this month, Yeoulim Choir appeared at the Geoje National Chorus Contest, in which choirs from all over the country participated. Although the choir members did not win an award at the contest, they realized that they had become one through music—something more precious and hopeful than any prize.

...I was deeply moved while singing, and I felt there were so many emotions inside me. I belong to the post-war generation but I felt like I shared the pain of national division. It was a unique experience.

...It’s been seven years since I came to South Korea but there were few consistent gatherings between North and South Koreans. Here, I was glad that all the choir members became one through song, and I was happier to get closer to South Koreans culturally.

The South and North Korean women sang together with passion and touched the hearts of the audiences. Here’s hoping their beautiful harmony will resound beyond South Korea and across the border.