Is Korea’s Foreign Policy a Failure?

When I was about to leave for Washington as a special correspondent in January 2003, there were mixed reactions from the Korean public to the Roh administration as it was just a month before its launch.

Men out off office and scholars from the progressive camp, who were easily seen in demonstrations, appeared on late-hour TV debate shows and showed offensive attitudes against the conservatives by attacking their logic. At that time, the conservatives cowered and restrained themselves from making remarks.

In October 2002, the second nuclear crisis of North Korea just started after then assistant secretary of State James Kelly’s visit to Pyongyang. North Korea said that it had highly enriched uranium (HEU) program.

Washington was not only interested but also worried about the new administration of Korea at that time.

Three years and six months have past. I am going back to Korea on August 4 and when I reflect the past days of the current administration, my hopes and optimistic outlook on Korea and the U.S. have disappeared. Now I am deeply concerned of the relationship between the two countries.

The nuclear crisis is not solved yet and also the next six party talks are not being held even though almost a year has past since the fourth six party talks ended. The situation has gone from bad to worse as North Korea carried out test-firings recently and the UN Security Council has adopted a resolution against North Korea.

In fact, it can be said that the Korea-U.S. relationship has worsened, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the two are divorced now. The two countries’ relationship is heading to its destination in a disturbing way, as if it is just ready to go out of orbit. Now, it is easy to hear that the alliance between the two countries has serious issues.

President Roh and Korean politicians have already lost their credibility by saying one thing out of fear of North Korea and saying another for domestic politics. As a result, the Korean president and politicians have not only become a disappointment but also a mockery for saying one thing and meaning another. It is easy to see Korean politicians making reckless remarks, saying that they are allowed to say what they have to say, and later send representatives to the U.S. to offer an explanation.

In Korea, most of the public agrees that the self-reliance policy rooting from “by ourselves” mindsets has collapsed. Also, the relationship between the two Koreas has not shown any progress. There are people who say that the former president, the proponent of Sunshine Policy, Kim Dae-jung, was deceived by Kim Jong Il.

The leftist progressive camp is voicing concern more than before. However, it seems that not many are on their side according to the results of opinion polls.

In short, it can be said that there has been a dramatic overturn in the Korean society and social circles in three years and a half.

I asked several U.S. experts on Korea for an advice while thanking them for their support while I was there. An expert who says he was a supporter of the Sunshine Policy said that he cannot support it anymore. Explaining his change of thought, he said, “South Korea has shown enormous generosity in giving goods for free to North Korea and still the South Korean government does not have any leverage over North Korea”

I got to think that the arguments and logic which North Korea revealed by the recent test-firings was based on a wrong assumption that the Sunshine Policy and engaging policy was based upon wrong recognition and supposition.

What makes North Korea think that South Korea’s security was possible because of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles?

It seems that the participatory government’s achievement of its failed North Korean policies and diplomacy is affirming the fact that the relationship between the two Koreas cannot be sustained unless the relationship between South Korea and the U.S. and the alliance among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are normal.

However, the government remains unchanged, still making useless and somewhat aggressive remarks such as, “There is nothing wrong with saying what we have to say about the U.S.” That kind of attitude makes many wonder the intelligence of the politicians of the Roh administration. It is common sense to make remarks considering the wholesome situation.

The Korean public learned a new lesson. Koreans are now fully aware of the capability of the left progressive camp thanks to its numerous mistakes and failures. They are sure that the camp has provided Koreans with sufficient examples of unreasonable logic and the tragic results of it.

maypole@donga.com