North Korean Foreign Policy after the Cold War - Essay Example

To What Extent Has North Korean Foreign Policy Became Less Isolationist since the Cold War? The foreign policy of North Korea is considered as a political construct especially entrenched for three purposes namely: conduct a war, fix grievances, and attain the country’s grand ideological vision (Ebersadt 2005). The “legitimate” isolationist posture of North Korea is justified and driven by the 38th parallel that divided the North from the South Korea, constant US military and political presence in South Korea, and the long history of being in seclusion. The relationship between the North Korea and South Korea determined the former’s conduct of the foreign policy. The tension between these two states has led to the loss of million lives in each side of the parallel from 1948 until 2002 (Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2008, cited in Turku, 2009). North Korea claimed that South Korea is a puppet of the United States. In addition, the North Korea accused South Korea of being anti-national and as an aid to foreign aggressors. Kim II Sung, throughout his reign, asked South Koreans to initiate a revolution that would abolish the US fascist military dictatorship. He further reiterated that armed struggle serves as the only means in order for the South Korea to be liberated from colonizers and oppressors. Kim II-Sung asserted that South Koreans, inspired by the construction of the Northern half and achievements in the socialist revolution, will be impelled to seek for reunification of the nation (Turku, 2009). The two nations agreed to discuss normalizing their relations starting on August 1971. The Inter-Korean summit on June 13 to 15, 2000, which is followed on October 2 to 4, 2007 in Pyongyang, marked the greatest progress that these two nations took towards peaceful coexistence. The two nations agreed to produce a joint declaration for national unification in the Korean peninsula and peaceful co-existence in the first summit (Moon 2002, cited in Turku, 2009). These historical summits were facilitated by the “sunshine policy” of South Korea. This policy has three principles namely, engage in economic terms with North Korea, respect the sovereignty of the North, and lastly zero tolerance for aggression manifested by North Korea (Turku, 2009). The present administration in South Korea abandoned the “sunshine policy” term; however, its policy still continues to concentrate on cooperation, principles of engagement, and dialogue with the North Korea. A summit that occurred on June 15, 2000 serves as historical milestones for the two nations. What was deemed as impossible in the past finally occurred as South Korea’s president visited Pyongyang for the first time. Hong (1999, cited in Turku, 2009) reiterated that the “sunshine policy” serves as a medium for peaceful unification and co-existence of two nations through elimination of the “cold war structure” which is founded on suspicion and distrust. Kim Dae-Jung asserted that the “sunshine policy” serves as an effective manner of dealing with an isolated country like the North Korea. This “sunshine policy” is driven to create voluntary and incremental changes in the North Korea through cooperation, reconciliation, reforms, and exchanges. It does not only focus on simple engagement but also on international collaboration, domestic consensus, and military deterrence to unite the nations. The North Korea has recently agreed for foreign intervention instead of an exclusive negotiation with the South Korea. North Korea allowed foreigners to be involved in their negotiations after the declaration on June 15, 2000 (Turku, 2009). North Korea’s Relations with the Communist World North Korea managed to maintain “minimum political risk and high economic advantages” by freeing itself from the ideological conflict between countries like China and the USSR (Turku, 2009, p.120). Consequently, the Cold War had been less stingy to North Korea. Kim II-Sung’s Juche-masquerade proved to be effective. Not only did China and Soviet Union grant them aid; the country’s desired remoteness was provided, as well (Turku, 2009). Furthermore, signing the treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual assistance in 1961, North Korea received $2.2 billion from USSR and $900 million from China (Kim, 2003; Kim, 2002, cited in Turku, 2009). The three countries, North Korea, China and USSR, have complementary goals that ultimately seek to counter US’ influence of capitalism and socialism. This is achieved by China and USSR’s appeal to North Korea (Turku, 2009). However, the relation between North Korea and USSR did not last long. Lintner pointed out Kim II-Sung’s “dislike” of the anti-Stalinization process (1950s) and Gorbachev’s launching of the glasnost and perestroika policies as the two attributing factors for the two nation’s dissension. (2005, cited in Turku, 2009, p.120). Yet Soviet Union’s priority of setting up allies in the Far East outweighed any implication of this dissension. They consider North Korea to be “the most important bastion” in their war against the “American and Japanese imperialism” as well as the “Chinese revisionism” (Oberdorfer, 2001 cited in Turku, 2009, p.120). This explains their continued support of Kim II-Sung until North Korea’s collapse (Turku, 2009). Though North Korea accepts this support, they did not cease to relent. Feffer pointed out the outstanding principle of self-sufficiency North Korea continuously revered through Kim II-Sung’s statement: “Korean independence had been too hard won to simply hand over the reins of power to Beijing or Moscow” (2003, cited in Turku, 2009, p.120). The establishment of diplomatic relations by the Soviet Union in 1990 and China in 1992 caused a stir of change in the countries’ relation with North Korea (Turku, 2009). These changes were not pleasantly in favor of North Korea’s ilk. The North Korea claimed that while the Chinese placed money up the pedestal, the Russians were undermining reformers. The Monterey Institute of International Studies presented North Korea’s conclusion that if “money can be found south,” then China invariably “bows to the south” (1999 cited in Turku, 2009, p.120). On the other hand, bilateral relations with Russia were deemed a mask. North Korea pointed out how Russia imperceptibly leads to “subverting the regime” followed by an introduction of “Russian-style reforms” encompassing the abhorred democracy and capitalism (Toloraya, 2002, cited in Turku, 2009, p.120). Considering of North Korea’s status and weighing of the country’s incurred and potential foreign policy costs and benefits were signaled by the end of the Cold War (Turku, 2009, p.121). China, in particular, took notice of these. The country, maintaining its interest “through financial aid, trade relations and loans,” took the initiative of extending its support for the two Korea’s reunification “as a confederation” to divert potential collapse resulting to a “major chaos, turmoil and a massive exodus of refugees” (Kim, 2002 cited in Turku, 2009, p.121). China’s concern is understandable -- what with the Korean peninsula located along its borders (Turku, 2009). According to Qimao, China views the reunification policy, which adheres to “one country, one nation; two systems, two governments,” as an answer to Korea’s current situation and reiterate its support of Korea’s national interest, most especially its peace and stability (1993, cited in Turku, 2009, p.121). China turns to point out how a dramatic change may dangerously or invariably lead to conflict, war, and collectively, the Korean nation-disaster that threatens not just China’s security, but of the entire Asia-Pacific region also (Qimao, 1993 cited in Turku, 2009). The same preference goes for the Russian’s say on North Korea’s condition (Turku, 2009). Russia only foresees destabilization of the entire Korean region if the two Koreas insist in pursuing a dramatic change and ignore efforts of diplomatic relations (Turku, 2009). Moreover, Russia “strongly disapproved of North Korea’s nuclear weapon development” (Turku, 2009, p.121). To extend and reiterate Russia’s position of the Korean confederation, Russian president Vladimir Putin, visited North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang (Turku, 2009). North Korea’s Relations with the US Ever since the beginning of the Korean War in the 1950’s, the relationship between the US and North Korea has been marked with extreme hostility, malevolence, cynicism, military confrontation, and conflict. During this time, it was apparent that the US was geared towards overthrowing and destabilizing the North Korean government. In fact, in the duration of the Cold War, the US and North Korean governments, have not--in any way--established remarkable and collaborative diplomatic relations between them. Moreover, the US-North Korea conflict led to an important event--the separation of Korea into two divisions--which happened at the 38th parallel. Eventually, this brought distinction between the two separate divisions and triggered critics to explicitly label one division as the “axis of evil,” the pariah, and the origin of terror. According to DPRK, this aggressive act by the US serves a massive danger towards its unity, nationhood, ideology, sovereignty, and political system. Nevertheless, the fall of the communist bloc and the Soviet Union, along with the termination of communism in the world order during the early 1990s, prodded North Korea to change its traditional ways and its affiliation with the state. Whereas before--between 1948 and 1991--North Korea has isolated itself in both its domestic and international relations; in the mid-1990s, it struggled to realign its position according to the new global order. Notably, this readjustment occurred after Kim II-Sung’s death. In relation to this, it was apparent that North Korea was finally willing to establish harmonious relations with the US as well as with South Korea and Japan. This was evident in the so-called Framework of 1994--a groundwork for the peace agreement between the North and its nemeses (Arms Control Association, 1994). Moreover, part of the agreement called for North Korea to cease its offensive nuclear program. In exchange to this agreement, its civilians will be granted two light water nuclear reactors. Also, part of this agreement, the US, South Korea, and Japan will collectively give North Korea about half million tons of heavy fuel. However, several points in this peace agreement were not delivered as promised. Firstly, the two light water nuclear reactors did not reach North Korea since republican-dominated US Congress refuted with the idea. Secondly, the Bush administration scrapped several aspects of the agreement after treating North Korea as the “axis of evil.” Among these stipulations include: (1) the stabilization of political and economic relations between the US and North Korea, (2) the establishment of liaison offices in both countries, and (3) the upgrading of diplomatic relations into the ambassadorial level. Thirdly, the Clinton and Bush administrations have constantly bombarded overt nuclear threats against North Korea, instead of avoiding such actions--a point that was clearly stipulated in the agreement. With these, it is not surprising that the agreed harmonious relationship between US and North Korea did not prosper; rather, it further deteriorated, bringing in more strife to both nations. One factor, indeed, is the rampant discrimination of the US administration against North Korea, e.g. Bush administration categorizing North Korea as the “originator of terrorism.” This impeded North Korea to rise above its various evil labels and away from the strains of the hegemonic superpower. Until now, North Korea is still unable to engage with the world economy. North Korea’s Relations with Other State and Non-State Actors The North Korean state has gained several well known diplomatic relationships. One of these is the DPRK and EU relationship that was established in year 2000. The EU relationship resulted to humanitarian assistance to the DPRK and to the Korean Peninsula Development Organization. Significant individuals from EU paid their visit to DPRK to promote peace between the US, South Korea, and North Korea. Kim Jong -II stated during the EU visit that he would stop nuclear testing, refrain from visiting South Korea, and acknowledged a formal constitution between EU and North Korea that states about diplomatic relations (Drifte, 2002). This seemed to be the first step to obtaining peace; however, none of the said deals came to reality. Japan made its way in contributing to the peaceful relations between the two countries due to the failure of the deals. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi went to Pyongyang on September 17, 2002 to negotiate the peaceful agreement. Kim Jong II made his apology in public when he met with Japan’s Prime minister stating to free the survivors left in North Korea. On the other hand, Japan stated that they would enhance sanctions on trade and investment and rendered their apology for the violence, which resulted from the Colonialism caused by Japan. $10-12 billion was offered by Japan in return of the remuneration caused by the Colonialism (Akaha, 2002). There were a number of governments that declared peaceful relations with Pyongyang, but majority of them only did it for the purposes of formal relations of diplomacy. North Korea declared reformation or changes in their principles on human rights in a country for the recognition and aid while pushing through with their personal agendas. One of these is the development of nuclear weapons and preserving an isolationist posture in the domestic field. Furthermore, the regime preferred not to be part of the society of states by not agreeing to treaties and protocols. A definite example would be the non membership of the DPRK in the Missile technology Control regime, Chemical Weapons, Convention, and the majority of Human rights Conventions that have been implemented by the international community (OHCR, 2008). North Korea was said to have decided to terminate their membership from the non-proliferation treaty on January 11, 2003 and again pushed through with the development of offensive nuclear weapons. The country came up with a nuclear device in year 2006. The regime was accused of engaging to human rights violation such as slavery and labor. Prisoners were used for experiments; torture and executions were done in public and all other violations that were not tolerable by the international community (BBC, 2008). The said violations of international norms are said to be possible only when a certain state does not show interest as part of the society of states. Foreign isolationism made North Korean regime to perpetuate preeminent control of its population and practice dictatorship for them to obtain their personal interest and wants. Read More