The striking hands shake between north Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean Parliamentary speaker Woo won-shik in China is Receiving a Lot of International Attention. Although It May Seem Like a Rapprochement between the Two Countries, experts say not to read too much into it.
The Two Shook Hands at the Grand Military Parade of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Heads of State and Politicians from Nearly Thirty Different Countries, Including Russia, Indonesia, And Belarus, Were Guests at the Commemoration of the End of World War II in Asia.
The contact between Kim and the Second-Highest Leader of South Korea is Mainly of Great Symbolic Value, Says Professor and Korea Expert Remco Breuker. Accordance to him, it shows that South Korea would like to strengthen with North Korea.
The Countries Have Been at Since North Korea Invaded South Korea in 1950. A Ceasefire Ended the Active Fighting in 1953, But The Conflict Has Never Been Officialy ended. South Korea is Therefore Mainly Seeking More Rapprochement for the Safety of its own Citizens, Says Breuker. “But also to Become less Dependent on the United States.”
Doubtts Have Arisen in South Korea About the Reliability of American Security Guarantees. For Example, American Troops Have Been Stationed in South Korea Since World War II. They must Guarantee the Security of the Country. But Since Donald Trump Took Office, The Costs Have Risen and the American President is Threatening to withdraw the Troops.
‘There is Hardly Any Real Interaction’
Since Taking Office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung Has Made Several Attempts to Improve Ties with North Korea. North Korea does not want to know anything about this for the time being and rejects every ture. “That makes the handshake striking,” Says University Lecturer Elmer Veldkamp.
But accordance to him, a distinction must be made between the symbolic and substantive value of the meeting. “In Terms of Content, it Doesn’t Mean That Much.” Lee Tried to Start A Conversation with Kim, But He Kept His distance. So there was hardly any real interaction.
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Kim Jong-un Arrives in Beijing for Grand Military Parade
‘North Korea Wanted to Avoid Contact at Parade’
In Addition, The Contact Moment Seems To Have Arisen SpontaneeUouse, because a Planned Meeting between Kim and a South Korean Parliamentary speaker would have Been Extensively Covered in the Media in Advance. “Perhaps Kim was well in a position where he could not reject the handshake,” Says Veldkamp. “That could have put him in a bad light with the other heads of state present.”
And that is Exactly What Kim Wants To Prevent, Emphasizes The University Lecturer. North Korea Wants To Present Itelf on the World Stage As a Regular State with which business can be done. For this, Kim Needs Friends Like China and Russia. “Then you don’t want to come across to them as some with whom it is difficult to make contact.”
Dictatorial North Korea is Cut Off from Most Western Countries, which isolates the country on the world stage. North Korea is Mainly Dependent on Russia and China for Support and Political Support.
Accordance to Korea Expert Casper van der Veen, The North Korean Leader Wanted to Send a Message to the West at the Military Parade. “Kim and Russian President Putin Stood as Guests of Honor Next to Chinese President XI. With This, Kim shows that does not need the West, and Therefore also South Korea, at All.”
That Message was supported by the Attitude of the North Korean Delegation at the Military Parade. For Example, South Korean Parliamentarian Kim Joon-Hyeong Said in an Interview Afterwards that the North Koreans Present “Turned Their Heads Away and Looked Angry, Making It Difficult to Approach Them.”
The Parliamentarian also noted that the delegations from North and South Korea Viewed the Parade from Opposite Sides. The suspects that north korea agreed this with china to avoid contact, writes the South Korean news medium NK News.
Tensions have only increased
Furthermore, North Korea’s Hostile Attitude Towards South Korea has not changed. Because AltheHegh North and South Korea Have stopped Broadcasting Propaganda in the Border Area, Accordination to van der Veen This Cannot Be Seen As A Relief. “South Korea Actual Broadcast News about North Korea. Kim young-un hens to keep population as isolated as Possible, so it was mainly in his own interest to stop the propaganda back and fort.”
The Korea Expert Points Out That Tensions Between the Two Countries Have Only Increased Further. For Example, The North Korean Leader Attended A Missile Test While South Korea and the US Held Their Annual Joint Military Exercise. South Korea also fired Warning Shots at North Korean Soldiers at the Heavily Guarded Border Between the Two Countries.
A complete reunification of North and South Korea has long leg the ultimate goal, but few people still Believe in IT. However, accordance to van der Veen, The South Korean President Continues to Focus on a more Peaceful Cooperation.