[Opinion] Lips and Teeth

In ancient China where the country was divided into several kingdoms, Jin, one of the most powerful kingdoms, decided to invade Guik and Woo. Jin first made a proposal to Woo. ˝We will offer you many precious treasures if you open the way toward Guik.˝ Then, a messenger from Guik told the king of Jin, ˝There is an saying that teeth are bound to feel cold without the lips. Likewise, we will not be able to exist without Guik.˝The king of Woo, however, accepted the offer for the treasures promised. After Guik collapsed, Woo was then invaded by Jin. This is how the old saying ˝Without Lips, There`s No Teeth˝ came in the first place.

The old saying was often quoted to explain the relationship between North Korea and China. Like that of Guik and Woo, the relationship between the countries was believed to be so closely linked that destruction of one could endanger the existence of another. It was the worst scenario for China during the cold war era that the U.S. increased its presence up to the North Korea-China border by collapsing the regime in North Korea. North Korea has been an effective shield for China for decades. This is why China sent a million soldiers to help North Korea during the Korean War, and has sent oil and food to the starving country since the early 1990s.

The relationship between the lips and the teeth, however, does not seem to be as close as it used to be. There are some reasons for the sour relationship between the two socialist brotherly allies. For one thing, the relationship between Beijing and Washington has improved significantly. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, in fact, said a few weeks ago that the two countries were having the closest relations since Richard Nixon`s first visit to China in 1972. China is seeking Washington`s help to successfully switch to a capitalist system and host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Beijing also finds remaining in good terms with South Korea essential. If the North is upper lip in the lips-and-teeth relationship, the South has become the lower lip.

Ideology no longer counts when it comes to international relations. Countries are only seeking their national interests. The fourth-generation Chinese leaders headed by President Hu Jintao are in line with the global trends in this respect. From their programmatic viewpoint, North Korea becomes increasingly burdensome. It is sorry that the North, having gone through all the difficulties since the early 1990s, has yet to realize the biting reality of international relations. The one it can rely on is the South. It is time for North Korea to make genuine efforts to work for one Korea, instead of taking the on-again-off-again approach.

Song Mun-hong, Editorial Writer, songmh@donga.com