Inter-Korea Relations
FACTS ABOUT
Inter-Korea Relations 남북관계
9
Historical Background Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UN Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation Efforts for Lasting Peace
9 Inter-Korea Relations 남북관계
Although conflicts and confrontations have raged between the two Koreas across the DMZ for over sixty-five years, an atmosphere of dialogue and exchange and cooperation was fostered temporarily between the two countries following the Summits held in 2000 and 2007. However, there is tension along the DMZ at present due to the North’s continuing threats and provocations.
Historical Background With Japan’s surrender in the Pacific War in August 1945 four decades of Japanese colonial rule ended and U.S. and Soviet troops came to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula to both the south and north of the 38th parallel respectively. This resulted in
June 25, 1950
Outbreak of the Korean War
262
July 27, 1953
The signing of the Armistice Agreement
July 4, 1972
Announcement of South-North Joint Statement on July 4, 1972
the division of Korea into two separate countries. On June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked the South on all fronts, igniting a three-year internecine war. Since the signing of the armistice agreement on the 27th July 1953, the Peninsula has remained divided.
Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UN Even before the Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007, an atmosphere of reconciliation emerged as a result of the South Korean government’s northern diplomacy. As a result, the two Koreas agreed to join the UN simultaneously at the 46th UN General Assembly in September 1991. Their simultaneous admittance to the UN had historic significance, as it brought to an end the legitimacy controversy between the two countries and ushered in an era of reconciliation and coexistence.
Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation Between September 1990 and October 1992, the two Koreas
November 30, 1972
The first meeting of the South-North Coordinating Committee
September 20-23, 1985
The first reunion of dispersed family members
November 18, 1998
Commencement of South Koreans’ visit to Geumgangsan Mountain
263
engaged in a total of eight bilateral meetings, including the first High-Level Talks held in Seoul. In December 1991, the two sides signed the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and Exchanges and Cooperation between the South and the North (also called the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement). The agreement was focused on mutual respect between the two nations, the renunciation of armed aggression, exchange and cooperation in many sectors, and the guarantee of free exchange of people between the two countries. From the mid-1990s onward, the South’s government continued to provide support to the North, which was continuing to experience serious economic difficulties. In the period 1999-2007, the South supplied a total of 2.55 million tons of fertilizers to the North in an effort to help the North Korean people who were suffering from a food shortage caused by the inefficiency of the North’s farming system and a lack of fertilizers and chemicals. The Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007 provided the momentum for a dramatic invigoration of dialogue, exchange,
June 13-15, 2000
The first inter-Korean Summit
264
September 15, 2000
Athletes of the two Koreas at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics
June 30, 2003
Commencement of the work on the Gaeseong Industrial Complex
and cooperation between the two sides. However, the South temporarily suspended the supply of food and fertilizers after the North’s continuing series of provocative actions culminated in the launch of long-range missiles and nuclear tests, but did not stop providing humanitarian support for children or emergency relief aid. Reunion of Dispersed Family Members There are about ten million dispersed family members in the two Koreas. The first Inter-Korean Red Cross meeting was held in August 1971 to discuss the possibility of reuniting dispersed family members, but little progress was made due to differences of opinion. The two sides resumed the meeting in the 1980s, and, finally, reciprocal visits materialized. A group of thirty people from the North paid a visit to the South while a group of thirtyfive people from the South paid a visit to the North for four days from September 20, 1985. It was a truly significant event after 40 years of division. The two sides also allowed exchanges between groups of artists during the event.
September 19, 2005
The joint statement on non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula announced at the 4th Six-Party Talks
September 19, 2005
The second inter-Korean Summit
265
The family reunion became a routine event following the Summit held in 2000, and was subsequently held on eighteen occasions between August 2000 and October 2010. The North provided a special venue at Geumgangsan Mountain for these reunions. In addition, video reunions were carried out on seven different occasions between August of 2005 and November of 2007. Gaeseong Industrial Complex The Gaeseong Industrial Complex Project carried out by the North allows private businesses from the South to build factories on leased land in Gaeseong (lease period: 50 years) and produce goods. Gaeseong is the third largest city in the North after Pyeongyang and Nampo. The city offers clear advantages to businesses from the South due to its close geographical proximity to the South. Gaeseong is only 8km from Panmunjeom. Following an initial proposal made in 2000, the project was formally commenced in November 2002 with the North’s promulgation of the Gaeseong Industrial District Act. The work commencement ceremony was held in June 2003, with political
December 5, 2007
Commencement of South Koreans' visit to Gaeseong
266
December 11, 2007
Commencement of freight transportation on rail between Munsan in the South and Bongdong in the North
Production volume and workers of Gaeseong Industrial Complex 46,997
46,950 40,185 32,332 25,142
22,378
25,648
18,478
53,448
53,947 52,329
49,866
7,373 46,284 42,561 38,931 1,491
22,538 11,160
6,013 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Number of North Korean workers
2011
2012
2013
2014
(Source: Ministry of Unification)
Production volume (Unit: Millions of dollars)
and economic celebrities from the two sides in attendance. At present, more than 120 manufacturers from the South and their subcontractors are operating in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, while more than 50,000 North Koreans are working there. The production of goods began in December 2004. Concerning the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the two sides have signed four agreements on the Normalization of Gaeseong Industrial complex, etc. in addition to the agreements on communications, customs clearance, quarantine, and stay.
Efforts for Lasting Peace The government of the South has made efforts for a permanent settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the 267
development of good relations with the North through dialogues and exchange and cooperation. It has stuck to its basic stance, i.e. it will continue to strive to improve its relations with the North through dialogue and cooperation even during periods of extreme tension such as that occasioned by the North’s temporary closure of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Generally speaking, the government of the South and the South Korean people have succeeded in maintaining a calm and stable social atmosphere. The South copes flexibly with all outbreaks of tension on the Korean Peninsula by continuing dialogue and cooperation to maintain peace with neighboring countries. As such, South Korea may be claimed to be one of the safest countries in the world. Since its inauguration in February 2013, the Park Geunhye government of the South has been pushing ahead with the Trust Building Process on the Korean Peninsula in a bid to develop better relations with the North, primarily by building trust between the two Koreas based on a solid national security stance, securing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and laying the basis for unification. The government is doing its best to promote deterrence, dialogue and cooperation in a balanced fashion and to encourage the North to make the right choices, including renunciation of its nuclear program. It will accelerate its efforts for joint development with the North in order to lay the basis for peaceful unification, and will also make efforts to contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world through the country’s unification.
268
269