[Opinion] Focusing on the Opening of NK Policies

The U.S. and China are actively involving with North Korean matters. They are moving with their own purposes, but what are our goals in dealing with the North and what are our principles?

An editorial of `The Independent` newspaper in the beginning of the century said, `Although the world talks about many pitiful people, the most pitiful ones are Korea’s women`.

If there are the most pitiful citizens and race in this generation, I think they are our brothers in North Korea. How much did they have to starve to grow shorter? How come they are dying without the simplest treatments? How can they be put into prison for making some complaints? And yet, there is no sign of hope.

Who are the people in this world that should be concerned with North Koreans the most? Are they Americans or Chinese? Would they not be us, the same race? But what are we doing?

The fact is that the present North Korean political and economic systems are incapable of dealing with the people’s problem. Actually, it will only get worse, if the situations continue like this. Therefore, reform and opening of the system are urgently needed, and quick actions will be the only way to help the North Korean brothers live. On the other hand, maintenance of the current system will kill them.

Our goals and principles are made clear here. All North Korean measures must be focused on advancing the North’s reform and opening. The U.S. and China also must strive for the same direction, if they want to be our everlasting allies.

For any case, it is our brothers, who are already taken hostage, that suffer.

We must be able to always look at the matters of the Korean peninsula and North-east Asia in terms of understanding our brothers who are living in the North. Success of North Korean reform and opening will take the South’s great sacrifice and support. We will have to lower the level of our livelihood and consumption for certain amount of time, in order to make the North succeed. Although difficult, it is our destiny to make it happen. It is our common achievement and wish.

Our children’s and our future depends on whether we triumph over this fight against fate. The problem is neither the U.S. nor China. The problem is ourselves.

Park Se-Il (Professor of Law and Economy, Seoul National Univ.)