THE UNFORTUNATE RESULT OF THE SUNSHINE POLICY

Since its inception with former President Kim Dae-jung, the Sunshine Policy has evolved to complicate U.S. Policy efforts in North Korea, but also to hurt the North Korean people. At first the unprecedented policy was acclaimed on all sides, since it had never actually been tried, and resulted in the historic June 2000 summit (which earned Kim Dae-jung his Nobel Peace Prize).

But long after its uselessness has been demonstrated, South Korean politicians still pursue the Sunshine Policy, doing anything and everything in their power to keep the North (i.e. Kim Jong-il) from becoming offended. This is the hard reality of what the policy means in practice today. One striking manifestation of this is the South’s treatment of human rights issues in the North, and even of defector issues. Pathetically too few in the South take issue with their government for this, but some at the Chosun Ilbo do:

North Korean defector and Chosun Ilbo journalist Kang Chol-hwan last week told U.S. President George W. Bush the plight of defectors and human rights should take precedence over the Stalinist country’s nuclear program. Asked by Bush during a meeting at the White House what he would do if he were president of the United States, Kang said from the perspective of North Korea’s people the first two issues were more important. “In terms of international relations the North Korean nuclear standoff may be important, but from the perspective of North Korean citizens the human rights issue is more vital,” Kang said. Bush pledged to take a greater interest in the Stalinist country’s human rights record.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young made no reference to human rights in the North when he returned from Pyongyang on Friday from a meeting with its leader Kim Jong-il. He said the only humanitarian issue the two discussed was the reunion of separated families.

The two meetings sum up the difference in perception between Washington and Seoul, which prioritizes relations with Kim Jong-il and his regime and domestic matters while largely sidelining the living conditions of North Koreans…

…South Korean leaders are moved to tears of gratitude if North Korean bigwigs deign to speak to them, all in the name of inter-Korean security and national reconciliation. It is high time the people stopped taking their lead from the government when it comes to dealing with North Korea. [emphasis added]

It is interesting to note that even ten years ago an article like that would have been illegal in South Korea. Of course the Southern politicians believe that they are facilitating a “soft landing“ for the North Korean economy and government, after which they can peacefully reunify without the financial burden that would be incurred should the reunify now.

The fact that if the North Korea of the future is strong enough to offset that cost that it would have no need nor desire (speaking of the North Korean regime) to reunify seems to escape Southern logic, which is a genuine tragedy for the North Korean people. Good intentions pave the path to hell, a hell for the people of North Korea in this case.

North Koreans mobilized from cities to plant rice.