North Korea talking peace despite 'evil axis' tag

Lee Kyong-hee, Editor-in-chief, The Korera Herald, Asia News Network, Seoul

It may still be far too early to harbor optimism over the course of events along George W. Bush's "axis of evil" rotating around the Korean Peninsula, dizzying quite a number of people. But it is a great relief to see a few signs that some wise fellows are trying to say from across the Pacific that Bush's alarm bell was not intended to signal military action against his enemies.

A U.S. government official reportedly tipped Thursday that, during his upcoming visit to Seoul, President Bush will make it clear that the key issue is not dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang but relations between the two Koreas. It is heartening that he said, "The two presidents have a common objective, which is reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas."

Coincidence or not, some rays of hope flickered from Pyongyang via New York on the same day. North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Pak Kil-yon announced during an interview that his government was ready to resume talks with the U.S. anytime. He said it was up to the U.S. to decide whether it wanted dialogue or hostile relations with the North.

This is a familiar rhetoric that has been repeated by both parties over the months. At this particular juncture, however, there seems to be enough reason to suspect that the North Koreans mean what they say. Even their attempt to sound what's in Bush's mind is most welcome at this time when not a few people are keeping their fingers crossed to hear some "nice words" uttered by both sides.

For most people on this side of the ocean, it remains a mystery what the U.S. president intended to gain from his boisterous "axis of evil" remarks. But he safely struck home if he had wanted to create some waves here in the southern half of the peninsula. His short phrase of a mere three words stirred up a formidable storm among South Korean politicians.

More than anybody else, Bush's apparently bellicose rhetoric pleased Lee Hoi-chang and his fellow anti-communist conservatives of the Grand National Party. They gleefully exclaimed that Bush's North Korea policy was exactly the same as theirs. Lee, who obviously believes he already has one foot in the Blue House, toured Washington and New York where he criticized President Kim's "sunshine policy" before Korean Americans and U.S. officials.

It was no more than a month ago. Lee was smart enough to step back -- subtly and skillfully -- from his outright support for Bush's condemnation of North Korea, if not striking it with missiles anytime soon. The GNP announced Friday its official position that "the U.S. and North Korea must seek a breakthrough in their stalled relations through dialogue."

Lee and his colleagues in the main opposition party were not the only politicians who confused the people by clashing on every single issue concerning the Kim administration's policy to engage the North with dialogue and economic assistance. It is a great shame that their verbal offenses escalated further in the wake of Bush's controversial State of the Union address on Jan. 29.

Sadly, the shameless arguments in the political circles were reminiscent of some tragic events in Korean history, where factional conflict among the ruling elite rendered egregious disservice to the nation. Many people must have found it embarrassing that Korean politicians of different ages share the same disdainful traits that may be characterized as blind nepotism devoid of reason and sound judgment.

One outstanding incident took place shortly before the Hideyoshi invasions in the late 16th century. Korean envoys, hailing from two rival factions, made mutually contradictory reports on Japan's military situation to cause chaos in the royal court. Eventually, the Korean government failed to make preparations for the seven-year war with Japan, which devastated the country.

Another incident involved the rival parties toward the end of the 19th century that sought allegiance with different foreign powers to gain hegemony in national governance. The partisan struggle contributed to the demise of the already-declining monarchy and Japan's annexation of Korea. It is natural, therefore, that some Koreans felt as if a major disaster was looming over the past week, following Bush's wartime oratory.

It would be most fortunate if the working-level negotiators in Seoul and Washington efficiently bring home the fact that North Korea has kept its hands clean from terrorism for many years. Also, Pyongyang almost agreed to give up its nuclear and missile programs for economic rewards during the last days of the Clinton administration. Bush must understand more clearly the Korean people's predominant wish for peace pending reunification.

Kim Jong-il, on his part, would do well to move before next week's Kim-Bush summit in Seoul. As much of the international community is critical of Bush's notion of the axis of evil, it is the right time for the North Korean leader to show the world that he is trying to come out of isolation and save the North Koreans from hunger and terror.

Kim's 60th birthday, falling on this Saturday, would be the best occasion to make this peace gesture. It would be a most timely and gracious present for Koreans on both sides of the border -- that will certainly be much more meaningful than an invitation to a gymnastics performance or trucks full of wild mushrooms.