Revived Hope for Inter-Korean Relations Improvement, "Government Should Engage in Comprehensive Talks with North Korea on ROK-US Military Exercises"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As the spark for improving inter-Korean relations has been rekindled, voices are emerging that our government should actively propose dialogue with North Korea.

In particular, the Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-affiliated research institute, released a report suggesting that the government should propose to North Korea to hold the Inter-Korean Military Joint Committee and comprehensively discuss the ROK-US joint military exercises and other issues.

Lee Moo-chul, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated in an online series titled “North Korea’s Position on the Declaration of the End of the War and the Security Dilemma” that “there is a need to propose a comprehensive discussion on the preconditions claimed by North Korea.”

This is interpreted to mean that it is necessary to open the door to dialogue by comprehensively discussing North Korea’s demands such as the suspension of ROK-US joint military exercises and the restoration of inter-Korean communication lines.

The report also suggested that even without North Korea’s response, the South could prioritize implementing inter-Korean agreements, such as transforming the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a peace zone.

It emphasized that South Korea should demonstrate its willingness to implement and practice inter-Korean agreements by carrying out those parts of the agreements that can be implemented unilaterally.

While it is difficult to predict North Korea’s reaction, the report stressed that, as three years ago when inter-Korean relations entered a peaceful phase, the South should show its intention to improve relations through proactive concessions and cooperation proposals.

Research fellow Lee said, “It will not be easy for the Moon Jae-in administration to return the stagnant situation on the Korean Peninsula to the ‘Spring of Peace’ in 2018,” but added, “Depending on the government’s choices, it may be possible to stably manage inter-Korean relations and create an opportunity to resume inter-Korean dialogue.”