North Korean Citizens' Opinions on the Inter-Korea Summit Talks

North Korean Citizens' Opinions on the Inter-Korea Summit Talks

By Kwon Jeong Hyun, of China
[2007-08-09 16:13 ]

Regarding the news of President Roh Moo Hyun and Kim Jong Il having the second North-South Korea Summit Talks from August 28th to the 30th in Pyongyang, local North Korean residents and North Korean citizens staying in China have held conflicting opinions.
North Korean citizens have not heard the news of the Summit Talks yet.
Chosun [North Korea] Central News Agency, before the beginning of the press conference with the Blue House at 10AM on the 8th reported, "According to the agreement between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's National Chairperson Kim Jong Il and Republic of Korea's President Roh Moo Hyun, President Roh is supposed to visit Pyongyang from August 28th to 30th. However, most of North Korean citizens, as of the mid-8th, do not seem to know the news of the Summit Talks."
Kim Sung Gyu (pseudonym), in a phone conversation with a reporter this morning said, "This is the first time I am hearing about the South Korean president visiting Pyongyang for the first time." Mr. Kim added, "The Chosun Central News Agency airs at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, so no one has heard the news of the Summit Talks as of yet. Channel 3 (Domestic Cable Network for Residents’ notification of national orders or teaching) has not officially reported anything."
One source in Shinuiju of North Pyongan, in a phone conversation with a reporter, also explained, "News of the Inter-Korean Summit Talks is quickly spreading among municipal party member leaders, but average citizens have not heard. Only when the Party issues an order about the civilian education project will the news disseminate among the residents."
The source relayed, "Even if President Roh visits North Korea, he will only stay in Pyongyang and return, so people in provinces will not have a special interest in this national event."
If North Korean politics does not change, there will not be progress in the Inter Korean Summit Talks."
Defector Park Soon Shim (pseudonym, 49), who is residing in Yanji in China, said, "I heard through the south Korean satellite broadcast about the the Inter Korean Summit Talks taking place in Pyongyang, but I honestly do not have expectations."
Mr. Park explained, "When President Kim Dae Jung came to Pyongyang in June 2000, all civilians in North Korea had huge expectations, saying, 'The March of Suffering has finally ended' and 'Unification is not far off.' However, after that, our living situations did not improve at all, the state only emphasized 'military-first politics,' and word started circulating that 'Even the South Korean President cannot change North Korean politics."
Also, Park added, "I could not help but be surprised in China in 2006 that President Kim Dae Jung handed over an enormous sum of money to Kim Jong Il in 2000. If Kim Jong Il had not received that money, the North Korean authorities would have opened the country at least dozens of times.
Defector Kim Sung Su (pseudonym, 29), who had crossed Tumen River in April, 2007 to get to South Korea, said, "If the South Korean government continues to pour energy into negotiating with the North Korean government, I am worried that the footing of defectors like us will become more perilous."
Mr. Kim appealed, "I heard from the South Korean government that the policy of protection regarding defectors are increasingly being curtailed, but if the North Korean government threatens the South Korean government to 'Not receive defectors anymore,' I am worried about what kind of an attitude the South Korean government will adopt. The unification affair between the two governments is important, but I hope that the South Korean government will carefully consider the plight of average citizens like us."
"Through this opportunity, if the 38th parallel could be removed."
On one hand, North Korean trader Choi Chul Hyuk (pseudonym, 36), whom we met in Dandong, expressed huge expectations regarding the Summit Talks to take place in Pyongyang.
Choi said, "North Korea is currently surviving by economically leaning on China, but if it is to survive in the future, economic cooperation with South Korea is a necessity. Through the Summit Talks this time, if a bigger North-South Collaborative Zone is decided on than the industrial complex in Shinuiju or in Nampo, than it will greatly help the North Korean economy."
Mr. Choi explained, "It appears that China is helping North Korea behind the scenes, but in actuality, Chinese people have not invested in resurrecting the North Korean economy, but only deals with North Korea for their immediate gain, so it is the hope of all North Korean people that even more developed capital enters North Korea from the South."
Further, he added, "The North Korean government cannot leave the economy as it is anymore, so it will actively step forward in cooperation with the South Korean government. Through this opportunity, I hope that the 38th parallel can be lifted and that North and South Korea will push through an economically beneficial collaborative."