Preventive, Unconditional and Constructive Dialogue: Resolving the North Korean Nuclear Issues

By Walter Klitz, head of the FNF Korea office

“There is no alternative to a preventive, unconditional and constructive dialogue in the framework of the Six-Party Talks to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula,” said Mr. Walter Klitz, head of FNF Korea office, during the 5th Jeju Peace Forum held in Jeju, South Korea on 11-13 August 2009. “All countries involved in the Six-Party Talks should pursue pro-active diplomacy in order to build up confidence.”

Invited as speaker for the session on security, Mr. Klitz touched on the country’s hottest issue: the North Korean nuclear drive and a seemingly impending succession of the leadership in the North. With his own observation made in his frequent trip to Pyongyang, he called for a more rational and comprehensive approach--based on the facts--for better grabbing the genuine motivation of the North Korean regime in their pursuit of nuclear weapons that threatens the security of the region and the international community.

Several internal and external factors should be taken into account to rightly read between the lines of the current nuclear stalemate. Among them is North Korea’s intention to improve their bargaining power as well as achieving bilateral negotiations with the US. Also, the North’s desire to secure a smooth power succession within President Kim Jong II’s family is one of major explaining factors for the North’s missile tests and current initiative to revive “Juche” through the current “150-day fight”. “The 150-day fight” is North Korea’s initiative to boost agricultural production since last April. Unlike several experts, he predicted that a collective leadership is less likely to happen in the North in case of a sudden power transfer.

As a proposal to resolve the current security threats on the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Klitz emphasized again the importance of dialogue through the Six-Party Talks and called for a more pro-active engagement of China in the process of denuclearisation.

Besides making his presentation, Mr. Klitz also had an opportunity to exchange ideas with one of the most prominent participants, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, on the current North Korean issues and FNF’s activities in the North. Mr. Ban has been well informed of the FNF’s active engagement since he served as a Korean foreign minister and fully appreciated the FNF’s role in promoting peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.

The Jeju Peace forum is a bi-annual event, which has been evolving one of the most prestigious and influential gatherings in South Korea since its first launch in 2001. The forum mainly deals with security and peace issues on the Korea Peninsula and beyond, but the scope of its discussion topics has been broadened to include economy, history as well as international cooperation.

Focusing on the theme of “Shaping New Regional Governance in East Asia: A Common Vision for Mutual Benefit and Common Prosperity,” this year’s event was attended by hundreds of most influential political and academic leaders from Korea and abroad. Among them were Prime Minister Han Seung Soo, Foreign Minister YOO Myeong Hwan, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and former Prime Minister Lee Hong Koo.

Since 2007, FNF Korea has been annually organising its joint international workshop with the Jeju Peace Institute, the organiser of the Jeju Peace Forum. Their 3rd joint workshop on historical reconciliation is scheduled for 29-30 October 2009.

Please click here for the complete transcription of Mr. Klitz’s presentation on “Nuclear Weapons, Succession Politics and the Future of North Korea.”

Source: FNF Korea

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