08/17/2009
Preventive, Unconditional and Constructive Dialogue: Resolving the North Korean Nuclear Issue
“There is no alternative to a preventive, unconditional and constructive dialogue in the framework of the Six Party Talks, to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula. All countries involved in the Six Party Talks should pursue pro-active diplomacy in order to build up confidence. “, said Mr. Walter Klitz, Resident Representative of FNF Korea office, during the 5th Jeju Peace Forum, held in Jeju from August 11 to 13.
Invited as speaker for the session on security, Mr. Klitz touched on the country’s hottest issue: North Korean nuclear drive and a seemingly impending succession of the leadership in the North. With his own observation, made during his frequent trips to Pyongyang, he called for a more rational and comprehensive approach - based on the facts - for better grabbing the genuine motivation of the North Korean regime in its pursuit of nuclear weapons, threatening the international community beyond the region.
Several internal and external factors should be taken into account to rightly read between the lines of the current nuclear stalemate; among them is the North’s intention to improve their bargaining power as well as achieving bi-lateral negotiations with the U.S. Also, the North’s desire to secure a smooth power succession within Kim’s family is one of major explaining factors for the North’s missile tests and current initiative to revive “Juche” through the current “150 day fight”. “The 150 day fight” is a North Korea’s initiative to boost agricultural production since last April. Unlike several experts, he predicted that a collective leadership is less likely to happen in the North in case of a sudden power transfer.
As a proposal to resolve the current security threats on the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Klitz emphasized again the importance of dialogue through the Six Party Talks and called for a more pro-active engagement of China in the process of denuclearisation.
Besides his presentation, Mr. Klitz also had an opportunity to exchange ideas with one of the most prominent participants, H. E. Mr. BAN Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, of the current North Korean issues and FNF’s activities in the North. Mr. Ban has been well informed of the FNF’s active engagement since he served as a Korean Foreign Minister and fully appreciated FNF’s role in promoting peace and stability in the Korean peninsula
The Jeju Peace Forum is a bi-annual event, which has been evolving as one of the most prestigious and influential gatherings in South Korea since its was first launched in 2001. The forum mainly deals with security and peace issues on the Korean Peninsula and the beyond, but has currently broadened up their topics by including economy, history as well as international cooperation. Under the theme of “Shaping New Regional Governance in East Asia: A Common Vision for Mutual Benefit and Common Prosperity”, this year’s event was attended by hundreds of most influential political and academic leaders from home and abroad. Among them were Prime Minister HAN Seung Soo, Foreign Minister YOO Myeong Hwan, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and former Prime Minister LEE Hong Koo.
Since 2007 FNF has been annually organizing its joint international workshop with Jeju Peace Institute, organizer of the Jeju Peace Forum.The 3rd joint workshop on historical reconciliation is scheduled on October 29-30, 2009.
Please click here for the full text of Mr. Klitz’s presentation.
