North Korea is still a one-man dictatorship that has previously disregarded all promised peace agreements
After six decades of a cold, calculated conflict between the two Koreas that has periodically escalated into armed skirmishes, citizens of both North and South Korea may finally be on the verge of witnessing peace. Kim Jong-un, who has proudly bragged of having missiles capable of reaching the United States, became the first North Korean leader to hold talks in South Korea, proclaiming that he hoped for ‘a new history of peace, prosperity and better inter-Korean ties.’
The North Korean dictator walked across the forbidden border for a meeting with President Moon Jae-in, in what seemed to be a symbolic step to show that the third-generation Communist leader, whose grandfather created the absolute authoritarian regime in Pyongyang, is willing to strike a peace deal with his nationally declared enemy number one and neighbour — South Korea.
Over the years the two Koreas have toyed with the idea of lasting peace countless times. Since the two sides began negotiations in the 1970s, there have been a number of accords that would allow the countries to achieve peace as envisioned in the new agreement. Again during the 1990s, both countries jointly pledged to set up a ‘peace regime’ that would end the perpetual state of war, but ended on the brink of conflict over the North’s nuclear programme.
The recent meeting between Kim and his counterpart may not be able to remove the obstacles in the way of defusing the most dangerous armed conflict in the world. However, for the first time in its history, a North Korean leader appears to have consolidated his rigid stance and some of his authority. There is no doubt that the recent detente gives ground for optimism. But we must not ignore the countless perennial issues that still need to be navigated - not to forget that North Korea is still a one-man dictatorship that has previously disregarded all promised peace agreements.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2018.
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