Misty Roh-Kim Summit Talk Until New Six-Party Talks

Can South-North summit talks be suddenly held in Russia?

A sudden observation is coming out that a new historical event can be prepared for the South-North Korea relations when it is known that the Russian government invited the two Koreas to the event to celebrate “the 60th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Second World War,” which will be held on May 9 in Moscow

Of course, all the government officials showed a prudent response on January 16, saying “it is an awkward guess.” A core official at Cheong Wa Dae said that “we are invited to the banquet on one`s 60th birthday, but talking about a marriage meeting itself is a diplomatically burdensome talk.” Another government official showed a skeptical response, saying “there are lots of steps and procedures to go through until the South-North summit talks. It is still hard to say “Big News.”

However, the government took up a positive attitude in President Roh Moo-hyun’s visit to Russia. It is because the leaders of major countries including the U.S. President George W. Bush, Chinese President Hu Jin Tao, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, and French President Jacques Chirac will expectedly participate in the event regardless of conquered or defeated nations let alone the purpose of the only one-time event in 60 years.

In addition, since President Roh plans to visit Germany around April, visiting Russia as well is not a problem with the schedule.

Accordingly, it is interpreted that President Roh might have this event in mind, considering his remarks in the New Year’s press conference on January 13 “I am ready to attend a summit talk at any time and everywhere regardless of the topic if my counterpart responds. I am ready to suggest a summit talk actively if possible.”

The key is whether or not Kim Jung-il will participate in the event. First of all, it is unprecedented that Kim Jung-il participated in the international event where the leaders of several countries worldwide take part. Since internationally, the chairman Kim Young-nam of the Presidium of North Korea`s Supreme People`s Assembly is North Korea`s titular head of state, Chairman Kim Young-nam or another high official can participate in the event instead of Kim Jung-il.

However, since Russia invited North Korea to the event because the 88 brigade led by Kim Il-sung had participated in the anti-Japanese war, the possibility of Kim Jung-il’s sudden participation in the event can not be excluded.

In particular, it is expected that North Korea will try to win the regime security guarantees through the South-North summit talk or the North-U.S. summit talk at the event where world major leaders will get together, if there is a high possibility of resuming the next round of six-party talks prior to May 9 and a breakthrough in the North Korea’s nuclear issue will be open in the talks.