Why is Kim Jong-un ignoring South Korea?

(Baonghean.vn) - If you're old enough and remember this moment, you'll know this was an extremely important agreement at the time.

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il raise their hands before signing a joint declaration in Pyongyang. Photo: AP

In June 2000, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung shook hands before signing a joint declaration at a three-day summit in Pyongyang.

The discussions were aimed at opening up better relations and dialogue with Pyongyang, however any chance of maintaining friendly relations has “died prematurely.” The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950s.

While South Korea this week called for dialogue with its neighbor North Korea, Pyongyang showed little enthusiasm, dismissing the idea as "absurd."

Kim Jong-un's tactics

According to New York-based political analyst and Asia expert Sean King, Pyongyang is deliberately ignoring Seoul because it is only interested in dialogue with Washington.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is determined to build up his missile arsenal. Photo: AP

Mr. King stated that under President Moon Jae-in's administration, things are "unfinished." He argued, "Pyongyang has little need for Seoul these days, because it has overcome famine and has a stronger economy thanks to its strong currency reserves."

Furthermore, King asserted that North Korea doesn't care about its South Korean rival. "North Korea views South Korea as an illegitimate colonial puppet and considers Pyongyang the only de facto government on the entire Korean Peninsula."

King said that North Korea has sidelined Seoul and is focusing solely on direct negotiations with the United States.

Secret weapon

Professor Euan Graham, Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, says that in reality, leader Kim Jong-un wants to keep Seoul as an enemy.

Graham also stated that South Korea does not play the essential role for the Kim Jong-un regime as it did under his father's rule, when Pyongyang relied on Seoul for aid to combat chronic famine and economic decline.

Thousands of North Koreans showed their support for leader Kim Jong-un as he announced plans to test-launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland. (Photo: AFP)

Professor Graham stated: "South Korean President Moon Jae-in wants to initiate dialogue, but this will not happen without conditions," one of which is North Korea abandoning its nuclear program.

This certainly won't happen because developing nuclear weapons is a form of assurance and a bargaining chip in dialogue with Washington. Having an enemy like Seoul will give Kim Jong-un "domestic confidence."

And while Kim Jong-il met with foreign leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Cuban President Fidel Castro, and former US President Bill Clinton, his son focused solely on consolidating his leadership position domestically. Kim Jong-un did not meet with any leaders, including those from China.

According to Graham, Kim Jong-un's regime is more unstable. "Kim Jong-il went to Moscow and China, but for Kim Jong-un, leaving the country is very dangerous because if he leaves, he might not be allowed to return."

Graham said that Kim would only sit down at the negotiating table once his nuclear arsenal was complete, because only then would he have the most power.

This expert also stated that North Korea does not need South Korea because its economy has improved under the Kim Jong-un regime, while it has remained resilient in the face of the sanctions that have been imposed on the country.

He argued that opening dialogue with Seoul and allowing free movement would allow North Koreans to see how good life is outside, and that they would then "give up supporting Kim." Therefore, "the big threat is not Japan or the US, but dialogue with our neighbor South Korea."

Lan Ha

(According to News.com.au)