Choson Sinbo: "Linking North Korea's Economic Crisis to the Reopening of Communication Lines Is Unreasonable"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Choson Sinbo, the official newspaper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), pointed out that linking the resumption of communication lines to North Korea's economic difficulties is an arbitrary analysis and a forced interpretation. It also blamed the South for the cause of the communication channel being cut off.

On the 30th, Choson Sinbo stated in an article titled 'A Big Step for Restoring Trust and Reconciliation' that "According to the agreement between the North-South leaders on July 27, measures were taken to resume all North-South communication lines."

The Sinbo analyzed that "Regarding the sudden restoration of the communication lines after about 410 days, it can be interpreted that there was a commitment to remove the cause that made it impossible for the communication channel between the North and South to be completely cut off," and claimed that the South was responsible for the communication line being cut off.

The Sinbo criticized, "It was the South that touched the foundation and starting point of inter-Korean relations, mutual respect and trust," and added, "Despite repeated warnings and advice from the North, the South clung to policies of subservience to foreign powers and anti-North confrontation that contradict the summit agreements."

It further stated, "The person who should lead inter-Korean relations in the South is the President," and added, "As a signatory to the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, the President must take a stance of full responsibility for whether inter-Korean relations succeed or fail."

The Sinbo criticized, "Currently, forces that do not wish for the restoration of inter-Korean relations are arbitrarily linking the resumption of communication lines to the North's 'economic difficulties' and making forced analyses," and added, "They also interpreted the 2018 dialogue phase as a 'product of sanctions against the North' in a self-serving manner."

It then urged the implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration based on the principle of independence. The Sinbo emphasized, "At a time when the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula is complex and acute as it is today, we must uphold the principle of independence in resolving national issues," and "The Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, which clearly state national independence as the fundamental core, have been established, and now practical actions to implement the fundamental issues specified in the declarations remain."