Yearender: Inter-Korean relations stand test of nuclear issue in 2009

By Chen Yi

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The strained inter-Korean relationship went through a turn from "cooling down" to "warming up" in the outgoing 2009. However, it is still far from getting out of the deadlock as the two sides have different demands and still remain at odds over deep-seated issues, especially Pyongyang's nuclear program.

At present, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is making active efforts to improve the inter-Korean ties, regarding it as a "most significant national subject", while South Korea still takes the denuclearization of the DPRK as the top priority of its DPRK policy. Looking into the future, the inter-Korean relationship will continue to face the challenges of the nuclear issue.

TIES FURTHER COOL DOWN

During the first half of 2009, the inter-Korean ties, which have stepped into the frost of winter since the inauguration of South Korea's conservative government led by Lee Myung-bak in February 2008, further cooled down, deepening the confrontation on the peninsula.

Following the DPRK's controversial rocket launch in early April, the South Korean government decided to participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a U.S.-led nonproliferation campaign. But it repeatedly postponed the formal declaration considering the DPRK's strong reactions.

On May 25, when Seoul's government was struggling with political unrest caused by the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, the DPRK declared it has successfully conducted its second underground nuclear test, fueling Seoul's anger.

In response, Seoul announced the same day that its civilians will be prevented from visiting the areas near Pyongyang and the Mount Kumgang for safety reasons, and non-priority facility objects will also not be allowed to go into the DPRK. On the following day, it officially announced to fully join the PSI.

On its part, the DPRK issued a three-point statement on May 27,saying that it saw the South's participation in the PSI as "declaration of war", and its army would take "military actions" as the armistice on the peninsula was invalidated. It also said the DPRK would not guarantee the safety of warships of U.S. and South Korea and civil ships sailing in the region.

The DPRK later reportedly test-fired short-range missiles several times, described by South Korean media as "imposing threat" on Seoul.

Moreover, in late March, DPRK detained a South Korean engineer working in the joint industrial complex at Kaesong, a border town of the DPRK, accusing him of publicly slandering its political regime, and alluring a female DPRK worker to defect from her nation. It also requested in June a substantial hike in the land fee of the joint park and salary of their workers there.

These events, which came in a chain of cause-and-effect, have a great negative impact on the development of the inter-Korean ties and the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.