Changing the image of North Korea: By Dr. Moon J. Pak > 통일게시판

Dr.Moon J. Pak suggests, "removing mystery and fear of the DPRK is the first step to normalize diplomatic relations", and finally concluded that in Korean society, the idea of being a host is very important, and North Koreans are also gracious hosts of anyone who visits their country. This kind of casual touring, in itself, would promote needed tourism in North Korea and begin to remove some of the mystery and unfounded fear of North Korea among Americans". This article is also published by Korean Quarterly, Spring, 2011 Vol.14, NO.3.


Changing the image of North Korea:

Dr.Moon J. Pak To normalize diplomatic relations, removing mystery and fear of the DPRK is the first step

Since the days of Carter’s Pyongyang visit to defuse the first nuclear crisis, followed by the signing of the Agreed Framework in Geneva, and the White House visit by North Korea’s chief military man, Gen. Myungrok Cho, the public image in the U.S. of the country of North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea DPRK) has deteriorated precipitously.

A typical description in the U.S. media of the country is usually preceded by derogatory expressions such as; starving, dictatorial, isolated, hermit society, desolate, enigmatic, deceitful, etc. This is why, for example, the planned visit by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to perform in Pyongyang two years ago was received by American public as a highly dubious and inappropriate idea. There was even worry about the personal safety of the musicians during their Pyongyang stay.

This unfortunate metamorphosis of the image of North Korea among American public began with the famous “Axis of Evil” speech by the former President George W. Bush. He believed that by labeling North Korea as country which would aid terrorists, that its isolation from the international community would intensify, and lead eventually to regime collapse, a naïve notion shared by many conservative elements in our society. In fact, there is no hard evidence to support this allegation.

Years of on-again, off-again Six Party Talks for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula ended in a dismal diplomatic failure with two successful tests of the nuclear weapons system by North Korea. In retrospect, the failure of the Talks was to be expected. There was inconsistency in the U.S. foreign policy in dealing with North Korea as an equal partner in negotiation, and the U.S. also failed to recognize North Korea as a legitimate and enduring entity. Many agreements of the Talks, which were painfully and carefully worked out have been abrogated at the last minute by the U.S. for the sake of political expediency and because of changes in international circumstances ---- the equivalent of moving goal posts during a game.
In every circumstance, North Korea was blamed, unfairly by the U.S., as a rule breaker, and presented to the American public as the dishonest culprit in the Talks.

Meanwhile in South Korea, there is a hard-line conservative regime led by Myungbak Lee, whose dangerous North Korea policy can be simply stated; isolate them, let their people suffer from food shortage and economic pressure, let them collapse and we will take over. This policy has further aggravated the public perception of North Korea in the eyes of U.S. public.

Finally, President Obama, contrary to his campaign promise to solve the Korean peninsula issue with negotiation and persuasion, began to collude with Lee by adopting a policy of so-called “Strategic Patience,” which led to an unprecedented high level of tension in the peninsula and was characterized by a series of military maneuvers conducted jointly between U. S. and South Korea. These military exercises were conducted in a disputed area of maritime boundaries off the North Korean west coast. These exercises seem to have been designed to provoke North Korea. These provocations were the root cause of the Cheonan ship sinking, and the Yeongpyong Island shelling; these two unfortunate events have been used again to vilify North Korea although the factual and scientific evidence linking the tragedy to North Korea is far from concrete.

The DPRK was established in 1948, a few months after the establishment of South Korea, (Republic of Korea or ROK). Therefore, historically the first step to set up two government systems in the peninsula was taken by South Korea, led by U.S.-supported Syngman Rhee, against intense opposition among Korean intellectuals at the time who feared that it will lead to the permanent separation of the peninsula and possible military conflict between the two regimes: A Korean War in 1950.

North Korea is a country of 24 million people, occupying roughly half of the territory of the Korean peninsula. It has a constitution established by its people’s will based on socialist political and economic doctrines. It is ruled by a single party system initially led by Il Sung Kim the founder of the government and party. Upon his death in 1994, he was succeeded by his son Jong Il Kim. Prior to the demise of Soviet Russia and its eastern European allies, the country had maintained a robust economy, culture, education and political and economic stability under the dictatorial leadership of the elder Kim, who was adored for his selfless and effective leadership that rebuilt the country after the war’s devastation. In the ‘60s and throughout ‘70s, its per capita GNP was higher than its Southern counterpart and it was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a model of a nation providing high-quality health care.

The country has a GDP variably estimated to be about $30 to 40 billion that translates roughly to $1,300 per capita GNP. It ascribes to a tight national socialism, thus everything is provided for the individual and controlled by the government: Job, salary, pension, health care, food and clothes, housing, education, and cultural activities.

The country has 1.2 million people in the military, which places it fifth in the world for military population. The defense budget is 30 percent of its GDP, the highest percentage in the world. It is a de facto nuclear power, recently announcing that it has developed uranium enrichment facilities implying potential for more nuclear weapons as well as a potential for nuclear generation. It has an Air Force with approximately 850 war planes and a navy with surface warships and submarine forces reportedly double the size of South Korean navy. Its missile capabilities are well recognized in the peninsula, and they have had many test firings of long range missiles as well.

North Korea is a member of the United Nations, with its Permanent Mission established in New York City. The country has full diplomatic relations with most countries of the world, including a majority of Western countries and all the Eastern European countries. It is of particular interest to note the unusual international relationship existing between North Korea and United States; the war in the peninsula ended in 1953 with an armistice treaty signed between the U.S., China and North Korea, with understanding that it will be converted into a permanent peace treaty within a foreseeable future. However, to date, nearly 60 years after the armistice, the peace treaty has never been signed; thus the War in the peninsula between North Korea and U.S. has never ended. In the past 60 years North Korea has been steady in its pursuit of a peace treaty with U.S. and subsequent normalization of the relationship, mainly so that they can take economic advantage of the normalized relationship, including lightening their absurdly heavy defense system that hampers their national development.

The normalization of the relationship between the U.S. and DPRK, that is, the signing of peace treaty between the two, is a necessary prerequisite for the maintenance of a durable peace and eventual reunification of the Korean peninsula. For this to take place, however, there will have to be a drastic change in the American people’s current perception of the North Korea. Even with its many shortcomings, discrepancies between its rhetoric and reality, diplomatic blunders, cultural idiosyncrasies, handling of sensitive human right issues, etc., the country of North Korea is grossly misrepresented in the hearts and minds of American people.

There has been discussion in the Korean American community, especially those among members of progressive organizations, that Korean Americans should spearhead a campaign to promote North Korea and its people to mainstream American society, to change the image of North Korea as a first step toward diplomatic normalization. There are many ideas about how a change in the hearts and minds of Americans could be accomplished.

Among them, a monthly press conference with Korean American leaders along with representatives of the Permanent UN Mission of North Korea in New York City could cover emerging North Korean policy issues as well as any news items emanating from Pyongyang.

Cultural exchange programs are always helpful in promoting person-to-person understanding, and have been undertaken by some Korean American groups already, including (this writer’s organization) the Korean American National Coordinating Council (KANCC) between U.S. artists and North Korean counterparts. In terms of artistic exchanges, groups such as the Pyongyang Symphony Orchestra, the Women’s String Ensemble, and North Korean operatic troupes could appear in concert tours and guest artist programs in major U.S. cities.

Similarly, there should be promotion of individual and group tours of North Korea by selected reporters, photographers, and columnists of major U.S. media organizations.

Promoting increased academic and diplomatic exchanges, such as the Annual Pyongyang Conference on Peace and Security of the Korean Peninsula, would be very helpful in encouraging a meeting of minds and joint thoughtful and formal discussion of matters of interest to North Korean experts, think tank scholars, academicians, former diplomats, and North Korean counterparts. In this vein, joint conferences between various professional organizations of both countries in the areas of medicine, engineering, economics, information technology, environmental science, etc., would help immensely in promoting understanding of and help for North Korea’s many infrastructural issues.

Finally, for the general public, there should be more guided tour entertainment programs for U.S. civilians in Pyongyang on such occasions as the Arirang Mass Games gymnastics performance, national holidays, parades, the Pyongyang Circus, and others. In Korean society, the idea of being a host is very important, and North Koreans are also gracious hosts of anyone who visits their country. This kind of casual touring, in itself, would promote needed tourism in North Korea and begin to remove some of the mystery and unfounded fear of North Korea among Americans.

*Moon J. Pak is the Chairman of the U.S.-DPRK Medical Science Exchange Committee (UDMEDEX) and senior vice-president of the Korean American National Coordinating Council (KANCC). In 2006, KANCC’s sponsorship enabled Korean Quarterly editor Martha Vickery to visit North Korea and tour as part of a delegation to the Pyongyang International Book Fair.

Published in Korean Quarterly, Spring, 2011 Vol.14, NO.3
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[News Source : Korean Quarterly, Spring 2011-05-20]

Moon J. Pak