|
 |
 |
TOKYO — What a difference a year makes on the Korean Peninsula¡¦©ªr
does it?"
The images seem to change. But what about the reality?
Since the historic North-South Summit in June, the Korean Peninsula has
been cloaked in a fog of euphoria and contradictions.
Never in 50 years have there been so many signs that peace is about to
break out and that
unification is just over the horizon.
Yet the world's highest concentration of firepower remains along the
Demilitarized
Zone. Mutual suspicions are rampant.
New polls last week showed a majority of South Koreans think the pace
of progress in North/South relations is too fast and may cost the South too
much.
Whereas polls after the summit spoke of quick withdrawal of U.S.
forces, latest opinion samples want U.S. forces to remain until more
progress is made (67.3 percent) and some say U.S. troops should remain even
after reunification (20.6 percent).
North Korea and the United States, Pyongyang and Tokyo seem to be
speeding up moves toward diplomatic normalization.
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was in Tokyo recently for talks with
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. The Japan part of the Korean
equation may be the toughest to solve.
With all due respect, this man Kim Dae-jung is a piece of work. He is a
statesman, scholar, intellectual, Christian and one of the finest gentlemen
it has been my pleasure to know in 30 years of covering this particular ball
game.
He is a 14-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. This year¡¯s prize
announcement is due October 13.
He and his wife are congenial hosts. They invited me to luncheon one
day at his Seoul
home in the 1980s when he was under house arrest. The Kims and I inside, a
platoon of machine-gun wielding troops outside.
It was a sort of buffet in the bunker.
He gave me an autographed copy of his latest book at the time,
"Prison Writings." Get a copy from University of California Press to
sample his sensitivity.
Kim Dae-jung is also a politician and a Korean patriot, which is
quite a combination.
He has a vision about leading his people toward unification. Kim
Jong-il, leader of the North, wants to go along for the ride. It is
Northern Kim's hope, his only hope, of survival.
Kim Dae-jung's vision is not shared by all South Koreans, nor by
all the Generals at the Pentagon.
My own reaction is mixed. I'm hopeful that Kim Dae-jung¡'s approach
works but I'm skeptical about the North being as true-blue as they've
seemed lately.
Reason still calls for caution. You can't conclude otherwise if you've read the book "Over The Line" by Chuck Downs (American
Enterprise Institute) about the North's negotiating and behavior record.
One year ago there were a few moves toward moderation (Kim Dae-jung's
own "Sunshine Policy" outline and the erudite approach of former U.S.
Defense Secretary William Perry). He came up with the most thorough
assessment anyone has ever done on Korea.
The two states have ended hostile propaganda broadcasts across the
demilitarized zone and met to plot future cooperation. Other positive signs
include Kim Jong-il's endorsement of Chinese-style economic reforms,
Pyongyang's participation in the Association of Southeast Asian nations
Regional Forum and its increased diplomatic contacts with countries ranging
from Australia to Italy.
Pyongyang has said it would like to have ties normalized with Washington
and Tokyo by 2003 — the year President Kim Dae-jung's term of office ends.
Edward Neilan (eneilan@crisscross.com) is a veteran journalist, based in Tokyo, who covers East Asia and writes weekly for World Tribune.com.