By Mel Gurtov
A South Korean Peace Initiative Likely to Go Nowhere
South Korean’s President Lee Jae Myung used the occasion of the country’s Liberation Day, which marks the end of Japan’s colonial rule, to propose to North Korea that the two Koreas officially end the state of war between them that has existed since 1950. In its place, he suggested a “multi-layered security system” that would halt ongoing threats and occasional armed incidents along their border.
Lee said: “Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties.” As for the nuclear issue, Lee wants “face-to-face [meetings] for peaceful coexistence and mutual growth,” adding this could serve as a forum for discussing “effective ways to halt the advancement of the North’s nuclear capabilities.”
North Korea is likely to reject any attempt to limits its nuclear and missile capabilities. And since Kim Jong Un has declared that the North and South are eternally separate and in a hostile rivalry, the notion of a sit-down with ROK representatives will probably be derided.
Trump Intervenes
After what Trump wrote on his social media, the North has even less incentive to treat South Korea’s idea seriously. Trump cited his “very good relationship with Kim Jong Un” on one hand, and his unhappiness with the joint military exercises with South Korea on the other.
They’re too expensive, he said, and he wants them downgraded. The exercises “send a signal [to the North] that is totally inappropriate and hostile” for a country that has been “unthreatening and respectful.”
North Korea has always denounced the joint ROK-US exercises as provocative, and it has a point. But for Trump to agree with Kim at a time when North Korea is assisting Russia in the Ukraine war and carrying out missile tests doesn’t make sense. His decision, evidently taken without consultation with South Korea, can only undermine an alliance already frayed by Trump’s tariffs. Kim Jong Un must be having a good laugh.
In the same posting, Trump said he asked South Korea’s president to “join us in the Denuclearization” of Iran. President Lee turned him down.
But Trump’s message to the South is clear: The denuclearization of North Korea isn’t a major US objective, certainly not as important as the denuclearization of Iran, which unlike North Korea doesn’t possess nuclear weapons. And all because Trump has suddenly decided again to pursue “friendship” with Kim Jong Un.
Over the weekend, the Times reports, Trump posted a 2019 photo of himself and Kim at the inter-Korean border, writing, “Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” That bromance seems to fit with Trump’s adoration of other dictators.
That’s hardly the basis for policy, and it didn’t work the last time Trump tried to make a deal with Kim.
Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University.
