NK hints at possible resumption of inter-Korean talks

NK hints at possible resumption of inter-Korean talks. February. 17, 2011 10:33. spear@donga.com lightee@donga.com.

North Korea stepped up its propaganda for leader Kim Jong Il and heir apparent Kim Jong Un Wednesday on the occasion of the elder Kim’s 69th birthday.

The Rodong Shinmun, the official daily of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, and the North’s Korean Central TV carried a string of news reports and programs lauding the senior Kim.

The two media sought to elevate the festive mood through events including a photo exhibition of Kim Jong Il’s achievements of a establishing a strong military and leadership, an undersea ballet performance, a figure festival, and an exhibition of Kim Jong Il’s portraits.

Pyongyang also used the occasion to consolidate the power succession for Kim Jong Un. Reporting on Kim Jong Il’s viewing of the Meritorious State Chorus of the (North) Korean People`s Army, the (North) Korean Central News Agency called Kim Jong Un’s name ahead of others among members in his company. Previously, Ri Yong-ho, vice chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Military Committee, had always been called before the junior Kim.

A report by Kyoto News Agency’s Pyongyang correspondent Tuesday said “Footsteps,” known as a hymn honoring Kim Jong Un, was played as repertoire at an event that attracted foreign diplomats based in Pyongyang. Kyodo said the song, which contained the chorus of “Leader Kim,” referring to Kim Jong Un, was played for the first time at a diplomatic event.

At a convention for “celebrating the Feb. 16 festival,” Kim Yong Nam, head of the North Korean parliament, said, “South Korea has spoiled a rare opportunity for contact and dialogue by making excuses with different unjust causes and plots,” blaming Seoul for the collapse of inter-Korean talks.

Nonetheless, he used an assumptive phrase in saying, “If the South Korean leadership continues to cause dialogue to fail toward the end and seeks a path of animosity and hostility…,” hinting that the North has not completely ruled out dialogue.

This suggests that Pyongyang has no intent to shut down inter-Korean dialogue, which constitutes the starting point for resuming the six-way talks for denuclearizing the North.

Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korean studies professor at Korea University in Seoul, said, “Through these comments, Pyongyang has hinted at seeking dialogue after a while,” adding, “The North will likely send an overture to the South to tap the possibility of inter-Korean talks after the end of Key Resolve, a joint South Korea-U.S. military drill.”

Kim Yong Nam also urged the North Korean people to make 2012 the first year of making their country a “strong powerful nation,” adding, “Our fatherland has secured a strong war deterrence capacity, including the possession of nuclear weapons.”

These comments are not new, but he apparently repeated his will that Pyongyang seeks to win international recognition as a nuclear power.

Curiously, Kim Yong Nam’s report also made no mention of Kim Jong Un. "(North Korea) has the luck of the Great Dear Leader and Great General through generations," the report said, flattering Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, but stopped short of using the phrase “Luck of the Great Leader,” a phrase which refers to Kim Jong Un.

Kim Yong Nam apparently saw no need to highlight the successor on Kim Jong Il’s birthday. Analysts say, however, that the comments might allude to possible objection to the power succession among senior leaders in Pyongyang.