The provocation of North Korea at Imjin River and dual strategy against Korea
Hong Kwan Hee
Korea University Professor
Our 6 innocent nationals were relentlessly victimized by the provocation of North Korea at Imjin River on September. Although some may assert that it was inevitable and urgent discharge as the dam was filled with water, the spokesman of Ministry of Defense confirmed that the water level of Hwanggang Dam was normal immediately before when North Korea discharged water. The Minister of Unification, Hyun In Taek answered in the National Assembly on the 9th day, gIt seems that North Korea intentionally discharged the water.h
As it was disclosed that 10 North Korea soldiers patrolled the MDL for 2 ours on the 5th day, one day before the discharge of water in Hwanggang Dam, the suspicion that the patrol is connected with to water bomb is increasing. Since North Korea has shown peaceful gesture to Korea and USA for just 1 month, this disaster obviously revealed the dual strategy of North Korea against Korea.
There are more examples of dual strategy of North Korea. On September 4, two days before the disaster of Imjin River, North Korea suddenly sent to letter to UN Security Council to assert, "As the recycling of waste fuel rod is completing, we are making weapon with the extracted plutonium." Especially, with respect to the controversial uranium enriching nuclear program, North Korea openly proclaimed, "We complete as uranium enriching test is successfully in progress." After causing the 2nd nuclear crisis by admitting the uranium enriching nuclear program in October 2002, North Korea alleged in January 2003, gThe enriched uranium program is the falsification and conspiracy of hostile force of US.h Negating it for 7 years, North Korea recognizes it, trying to justification.
Some people in the US Congress assert that North Korea should be included in the list of terror supporting countries although it was deleted by US from the list in October last year, mentioning North Koreafs developing mass killing weapon and invariable strategy for external challenge.
In addition to the mass]killing weapon, North Korea recently increased the number of soldiers in special unit to 180,000 by 60,000 to enhance the conventional military power. Meanwhile, North Korea demands to stop UFG (Ulji Freedom Guardian) training of Korea and US Allied Force which has defensive character to cope with the provocation of North Korea, claiming that it is a training to invade North Korea. Still alleging that Korean War was invasion to north while it was proven to be invasion to south by the materials of USSR, North Korea concentrates in instigating Korea.
Immediately after the condolence delegation of the former president, Kim Dae Jung returned after visiting President Lee Myung Bak, North Korea emphasized, "The normalization of North & South relation is the request of ethnic history and urgent demand of our age." Then, immediately after provocation at Imjin River, it again started to denounce, "The ethnic traitors in South Korea including Lee Myung Bak, the rebel." It can be easily understood that North Korea returned to hostile attitude, because the policy of Korea against north shows no sign of change after the gesture of reconciliation to south. The dual strategy of North Korea that repeats chronic deception, intimidation and reconciliation is main cause, for which North Korea loses trust in the international society. The number of experts that distrust North Korea is increasing due to this provocation at Imjin River.
After 2 nuclear tests on May 25, Korea, US and international society have enforced financial sanction against the economy of North Korea on the basis of UN resolution No 1874. As a result, the impact to North Korea seems considerable. The gesture of reconciliation continued in August, provocation at Imjin River on September 6 and intimidation of nuclear armament on September 4 are analyzed to be tactics to collapse the Korea and US cooperation for sanction and to get out of the encircling net.
Thus, North Korea totally concentrates on the direct dialogue with US. Since its inauguration, the Government of Obama has initiated the sanction to North Korea, saying gNo more yielding and compromiseh against North Koreafs brinkmanship tactics composed of missile and nuclear test. Trying to grasp the real intention of North Korea which has constantly demanded direct dialogue in the situation where military option is limited, the Government ponders over the solution of nuclear issue.
While US is preparing the dialogue between US and North Korea under the principle of deterring nucleus, continuous sanction, discussion with the relevant country, North Korea sets responsive policies such as no abandonment of nucleus, returning to 6 parties talk after talk between both parties, recognizing the possession of nucleus, 3rd nuclear test if US continues its sanction. Thus, it is very likely that the US and North Korea dialogue will be another long journey that leads to earning time and disruption.
In the time when the dual strategy of North Korea become more open, we must stick to the principle of non nucleus of Korea Peninsula and firmly cope with the provocation of North Korea such as discharge at Imjin River. Further, it is required to cultivate the device to deter the provocation of North Korea by continuing sanction to North Korea under the close discussion and cooperation between Korea and US.