Historic summit is just a start

Historic summit is just a start

SEOUL: President Kim Dae-jung returned home yesterday after his three-day, two-night visit to Pyongyang. In addition to the symbolic significance as the first North Korea visit by a Southern head of state, Kim's just concluded trip to the North Korean capital was epoch-making in many practical ways.

The implication of the Joint Declaration, issued by President Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il after their talks of more than three hours Wednesday night, is profound as it provides a framework for the new South-North relationship based on the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation.

The five-point landmark agreement also presents the basic structure of a post-summit order on the Korean Peninsula.

This historic accord fairly reflects the positions of both sides on important inter-Korean issues. The agreement that South and North Korea will jointly work to achieve reunification independently is an affirmation of the North Korean position on this issue.

The two Koreas adopted "independence" as one of the three principles for reunification in 1972, but they have differed in how to interpret this word. Citing this principle, Pyongyang has called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in the South.

But because of this, Seoul has largely avoided mentioning the word. North Korea also acquired a South Korean commitment to its economic development in the Joint Declaration.

In exchange, the South gained North Korea's promise to help arrange for a reunion of dispersed family members around Aug. 15 and to open government-level talks to discuss these issues at an early date. Kim Jong-il's pledge to visit Seoul "at an appropriate time" was an additional outcome that the Southern side obtained from the Pyongyang talks.

This agreement was much more than what had earlier seemed possible. If the two sides put it into practice as they have promised, inter-Korean relations will certainly undergo a fundamental change.

The change possible in the relationship between South and North Korea holds great significance in the balance of power in Northeast Asia. The political map of this region should be redrawn when they achieve real reconciliation.

But we believe it is still too early to be optimistic about these changes. The two Koreas have produced many agreements, but few have been implemented. Since the top leaders of both sides signed it, the latest accord seems to have a better chance of being put into practice.

Moreover, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has further raised our such expectation by showing his strong commitment to the talks, at least on the surface.

While welcoming the agreement in Pyongyang, our allies, including the United States, are still cautious on the issue of whether a major change in North Korean policy has occurred. Many in the foreign media are calling attention to the fact that the Pyongyang agreement didn't mention the North Korean nuclear and missile development programs or the 37,000 American troops stationed in the Southern territory.

In fact, the foremost concern of our allies had been whether the two leaders would be able to conclude an agreement on sensitive security issues. North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs remain a major stumbling block in the way of better relations between Pyongyang and the Western states. North Korea didn't raise the issue of the U.S. forces in the South this time, but it could do so when it achieves a greater degree of reconciliation with the South.

There are many more security issues that need to be tackled in order to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The inter-Korean joint communique presents only some of the basic principles to guide the process of reunification but does not prescribe any specific measures. The details must be worked out in future consultations between the two sides.

The most urgent task is to substitute the current armistice agreement signed in 1951 with a permanent peace mechanism. The two Koreas have been far apart on this matter. Pyongyang officials have long called for the negotiation of a peace treaty between North Korea and the United States to replace the current armistice system. Seoul officials, on the other hand, have stressed that a treaty needs be concluded between South and North Korea.

What has been making this issue even more complicated is the role of the four major powers with interests on the Korean Peninsula. The status of U.S. troops in the South is only part of these complex domestic and international issues. The successful summit talks between President Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il are just a start toward resolving this mountainous pile of problems that separate the two Koreas.

The Korea Herald/Asia News Network