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On May 17

After the South Korean government gave the owners of tenant companies in the Kaesong Industrial Complex permission to visit the complex, which is located in North Korea, and signed off on US$8 million in aid to North Korea, the next question is how the North will respond. While these decisions are not major steps that could overcome the deadlock in North Korea’s relations with South Korea and with the US, they could create an opportunity to bring about a change in the situation, depending on the North’s attitude. Given the effort made by the South Korean government to clear the aid to the North and the Kaesong visit through deliberations with the US, we hope that the North will also make a positive response in a bid to turn the situation around.

North Korea has not yet offered an official response to the South Korean government’s announcement on May 17. North Korean propaganda website Meari said that the South Korean authorities should “stop deferring to foreign powers and defend the principle of national autonomy,” but that appears to be more of the North’s usual rhetoric. Since this is the first time that Seoul has given permission for businesspeople to visit the North since the Kaesong Industrial Complex was shut down in February 2016, the decision is of no small significance. Of course, the reality is that the businesspersons’ visit isn’t likely to lead to the immediate reopening of the complex, given the US’ sanctions on the North. But even if the visit is limited to inspecting assets, Pyongyang needs to note that the visit was approved through close deliberations between the governments of South Korea and the US. In other words, not only Seoul but also Washington is keeping a close eye on how Pyongyang responds.

The same can be said for humanitarian aid to the North. This aid is being delivered through international organizations, rather than being provided directly by the South Korean government. Even so, it’s noteworthy that this decision was made shortly after North Korea’s repeated launch of short-range missiles, and that US President Donald Trump thought that aid to the North was a positive step. Considering that both South Korea and the US have declined to label North Korea’s military actions as “provocations” and have instead clearly displayed their determination to preserve the momentum of the dialogue, what’s important at the present moment is for North Korea to respond in kind.

We hope that North Korea will make a positive response to the South Korean government’s decision. That’s the only way to achieve meaningful progress in inter-Korean relations before the South Korea-US summit that’s scheduled for the end of June. We look forward to a quick response from the North

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]