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