President Kim's Negotiation Skills Examined

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President Kim's Negotiation Skills Examined

With the inter-Korea summit hailed a success, President Kim's negotiating skills have come under the spotlight. How was he able to persuade North Korea National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il into compromise?

"He doesn't say 'no' directly to his counterparts. And the modest way he reacts helped the summit achieve success," says an official who accompanied the summit delegation.

For example, the Kims encountered a stumbling block when negotiating possible reunification formulas. Kim Jong-il insisted on a 'Koryo Federation' with a central government in charge of diplomatic and military duties, rejecting President Kim's proposed 'one conferation, two nations, two systems.' President Kim responded not with argumentative aggression but with persuasive reason, saying, "You are right in the long term but look at the reality - is it possible to have a central government with the current situation?"

Further, President Kim didn't neglect to express his high opinion of his counterpart's filial devotion. Kim Jong-il mourned for the full three-year term prescribed in North Korean ideology after his father, Kim Il-sung, passed away. President Kim's move seems to have played a role in establishing mutual esteem and trust between the two Kims. Moreover, President Kim often adopted the personae of a good listener, speaking infrequently and listening carefully to Chairman Kim's words. His soft approach and calm exterior was maintained even when he was interrupted by Kim Jong-il.

Another negotiation skill used by President Kim illustrated his faith that dialogue can achieve a win-win situation. "He believes that an agreement can always be found where both parties benefit," says a government official.

Follwing President Kim's instructions, South Korea was also well prepared for the negotiation of less thorny issues, to be turned to as an alternative in case deep differences were met in discussion of such issues as reunification or the concept of 'independent reunification.'

by Kim Jin-kook

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