3 years after historic meet, both progress and setbacks

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3 years after historic meet, both progress and setbacks

The June 13-15 meeting of the leaders of the two Koreas, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il, North Korean national defense commission chairman, was capped by the June 15 Joint Declaration, now a somewhat shaky cornerstone for cross-border cooperation.
Sunday marks the third anniversary of the declaration, which has served as the guideline for the two Koreas’ governmental talks, economic cooperation and civilian exchanges.
Throughout the last three years, the two Koreas continued their efforts for further exchange and cooperation, but several obstacles ― the North’s revelation of its clandestine nuclear weapons programs, in particular ― have hindered inter-Korean relations.
The two Koreas are scheduled to hold ceremonies to mark the relinking of two cross-border railroads at the military demarcation line today. The reconnection of the railroad lines, severed for the past half-century, is the fruit of the two Koreas’ labor. Militaries of the South and the North removed mines inside the Demilitarized Zone and set up joint administrative zones. The railroads will not be useable immediately, as further construction is needed.
For the past three years, the two Koreas held 77 government talks at all levels. Ten minister-level talks took place; working-level talks were held to implement larger agreements.
Inter-Korean economic exchange also grew. In 2000, the two Koreas’ trade amounted to $400 million. The amount grew to $640 million last year, the Ministry of Unification said, adding that 568 different categories of goods have been traded.
Families separated between the two Koreas since the 1950-53 Korean War finally had a chance to see one other. The first reunion took place in August 2000; the sixth such meeting took place in February. So far, 6,210 people have participated.
The tourist program to the North’s scenic Mount Geumgang also contributed to civilian exchanges. About 318,000 South Koreans have visited the resort via bus or cruise ship since the trip began in November 1998. The program was temporarily stopped in April due to the North’s fear of SARS.
Civilian exchanges, which at first took place in third countries, moved their venues to Seoul, Pyeongyang and Mount Geumgang. In another move of civilian diplomacy, the North sent a large group of fans to the South’s Busan Asian Games last year.
The North actively initiated talks with other countries. During the Clinton administration, the North sent a special envoy, Vice Marshal Jo Myong-rok, to Washington in October 2000.
The latest of such attempts came last year, when Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting in Pyeongyang.
Pyeongyang tried to reform its near-bankrupt economy, adopting an internal reform measure last July. Efforts were made to open the economy, as well: Sinuiju, Mount Geumgang and Gaeseong were designated as special economic zones, though little has been done with the districts designated for foreign investment.
North Korea’s obsession with developing a nuclear program has tainted such reform moves. Pyeongyang’s preferred brinksmanship style of diplomacy also is seen as a threat to the future of the joint statement’s goals.
The promise of North Korean leader Kim’s return visit to Seoul dangled at the bottom of the declaration. President Roh Moo-hyun recently said he would not hurry to arrange the return visit and a second inter-Korean summit, citing the nuclear issues and North Korea-U.S. relations.


by Lee Young-jong
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