Moon Chang-keuk: Does North Korea Want Reunification?
Moon Chang-keuk is a senior columnist of the JoongAng Ilbo.
As I observe the North Korean people in news reports about the death of Kim Jong-il and his funeral, I feel so pitiful for them. They cried so hard, and some even collapsed. In an outdoor plaza in bitterly cold winter weather, they bowed their heads deeply. I don’t want to talk about whether their tears were real or not. They were slaves, they were robots. Is there any other regime in the world where humanity is so completely abused and ignored?
The so-called North Korean leaders up on the podium were also pitiful. What were they really thinking? They were probably also desperate looking for a means of survival. They all knew very well that their status would simply disappear if the regime was not sustained. They were also slaves of the system.
North Korea was a gigantic stage last week and everyone on view was playing his or her part. The world media was almost dumbfounded at the unique scenes. What can the world think of the Koreans? Because my brother’s weakness is also mine, we should also feel embarrassed to the point of shame.
After Kim died, discussions flowered in the South and abroad on whether the North would maintain its petrified stability or face a unique crisis. Everyone was wondering if Kim Jong-un would be able to successfully maintain the dynastic succession or whether his grip would start to crumble. Those who were concerned about a crisis focused on what would happen to the North’s nuclear arms programs and what would happen if there were an exodus of refugees. They all concluded that they wanted a stable Kim Jong-un regime.
Some even went so far to say there was an opportunity for inter-Korean dialogue. The Lee Myung-bak administration appeared to expect some changes in the North’s attitude. But that was just a chimera. As soon as the funeral was over, the North declared that no changes should be expected.
Will Kim Jong-il’s death really end as a mere performance on a stage?..