What's behind N Korea's shock policy change towards S Korea? | Inside Story
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ม.ค. 2024
- A dramatic shift by North Korea.
It is tearing up its goal of unification with the South - a policy in place for decades.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un also said his country does not want war - but won't avoid one either.
So what's behind his surprise move?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Ji-Yeon Yuh, Board Member, Women Cross DMZ, Professor, Northwestern University
Longtime peace and reunification activist.
Fyodor Tertitskiy, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Korean Studies, Kookmin University, Seoul.
Einar Tangen, China, Senior Fellow Taihe Institute, Beijing.
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#NorthKorea #SouthKorea #KimJongUn #KoreanPeninsulaTension #Pyongyang #KoreanConflict #KoreaTension #KoreanUnification #AlJazeeraEnglish
Im a bit baffled that China was not mentioned as a possible reason why North Korea has stated that, it doesn't intend reunification with South Korea.
To contextualize, it would be like a hypothetical situation in which the Country of Mexico and the United States of American state of New Mexico are having a reunification debate. Now imagine that Mexico was actively supported by China. Don't you think that the United States would be against a China backed Mexico reunifiing with New Mexico and ostensibly shifting a China allied Mexico to the border of the United States.
So imagine an economically powerful South Korea with a powerful United States benefactor or backer reuniting with North Korea. South Korea would dictate the policy of the unified Korea as the stronger of the two and would be a US ally on the border of China. Basically, a Us backed South Korea would absorb North Korea and sit on the Border of China. So the message is for China, we will not reunite now and not ever, and therby never bring America to your doorstep.
If you think Japan likes Korea reunification.. Bigger territory and population and capacity become big country
Could pass Japan GDP easily
Small western mindset. You think it is all about money. Reason SoK economy is bigger is because of the United states sanctioning NoKo not that there is something special about SoK
@@kayrams1792another special thing is that it is a democracy and believe in free market capitalism 😂😂😂
There was never a will for reunification. From both sides.
Never is a long time. Eventually, there will be reunification and I doubt it will be under DPRK.; however, I don't think a war will be necessary for that to happen.
@juanf5391 the majority of koreans from 50 years old down do not want reunification because the gap is so big and North Korea values life much less than south korea. You can't reason with someone who thinks life is worth a bowl of rice.
@@juanf5391with every new generation the dream of reunification slowly dies a gen z South Korean cares significantly less about reunification than the silent generation that lived through the Korean War so it’s not surprising that a gen x Kim jong un would scrap his grandfathers goal of reunification
@@Dan-el4mz I understand that, but “never” is a long time and I’m sure there will be an eventual unification
How are people seeing North Korea saying “they dont want unification” as aggressive????? Do yall hear yourselves? They literally said they will defend themselves. While South Korea is insistent on unification…is that not the aggressive position?
Well I don't think anyone is under the delusion that North Korea is a safe place for its population.
there will never be unification, south koreans keep deluding themselves. The truth is for almost 70 years these are almost 2 different people now. If there was ever unification, one will never trust the other, then they will either crumble from within or inevitably break out in a civil war again. 2 different people with 2 different ideologies with a similar culture.
A slow news day, maybe?
their culture isn't even similar at this point in time. traditional joseon culture is effectively dead in NK, replaced by soviet style militarism. SK has rapidly replaced it with American culture.@@emikomina
Uh....do you know anything about North Korea?? History of Korea??? Any idea about what a totalitarian dictatorship is? My guess is hard no.
Al Jazeera choose a very interesting and apt guess list for this episode: a S. Korean commentator in the US who disagrees somewhat with the US approach, a Russian born strategist in SK who aptly reads the transactional basis of DPRK recent relations & the intended internal audience of Kim's words, an American-raised commentator of Chinese-American decent operating in Beijing who emphasizes certain of Beijing's commonalities with US on this particular front. Got to love that carefully crafted and real diversity!
Economic investigator Frank G Melbourne Australia is still watching this very informative content cheers Frank 😊
Hey Al Jazeera, you only have one left speaker in the studio?
I read it totally different. Kim is recognising South Korea as an Independent State along side North Korea an independent State.
If China recognised Taiwan as an independent State, that would be a " wonder " wouldn't it ?
Russia has its puppet states and spies in many European Countries and Africa stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Serbia for example is one. China has its puppet states and spies trying to stir up trouble and crate puppet regimes. Mynamar is one example. Iran has many proxy armies and spies stirring up trouble like the Houthis and HAMAS.
China can influence North Korea if they wanted to create peace.
How can status change to become the enemy is better ?.
At least that way Taiwan wouldn't draw us all into a conflict with China.
If only Putin understood such things.
Puerto
Does al jazeera ever consider to use stereo sound? We are not in the 1980s anymore
Let the people choose not the government !!
North Korean people can't choose, sad
@Aljazeera, The voices of these post has Low sound but Live tv the volume is high, I don't know where goes wrong on these video posting.
Its not like both sides are trying anyway. Yes even the south
The US also cannot just negotiate with the DPRK without it's allies agreeing to the terms. I wish for peace too but not at the price of insecurity for Japan and South Korea.
Japan and Korea are in US pocket. They will fall in line with what US wants. Just like when US wanted Japan to export the patriot missiles. They made an exception to their constitution to do it.
And the allies no longer trust the US. Biden will leave us holding the bag or throw us under the bus. Also he never has talks on his international decisions, with allies probably because he knows he doesnt make complete sense.
Yup, insecurity of Japan South Korea US bases.
The US can and frequently does negotiate without their input. South Korea and Japan are vassals that are completely reliant on the US for their security concerns, they have no leverage in this relationship. That's just the truth, we saw the US do so in Afghanistan, Syria, and likely will happen in Ukraine soon as well.
Japanese jingoists still want to conquer China. Is North Korea a serious threat?
Live and let live
Let's hope the two Koreans just go and develop separately and let each other live and let live
North and south korea are the same people and one country, don't be fooled with these borders started in 19s
@@izack91911919 and then again at 2019?
Strange.
Robot statement. I've seen this message a few times. 😂
I agree with the guy in Beijing, this is North Korea basically agreeing to give up on greater Korea and to be integrated into the international community.
Haha yeah right. Leaders that wish to interact with the international community don't prevent their population from accessing the internet for starters.
there will never be unification, south koreans keep deluding themselves. The truth is for almost 70 years these are almost 2 different people now. If there was ever unification, one will never trust the other, then they will either crumble from within or inevitably break out in a civil war again. 2 different people with 2 different ideologies with a similar culture.
north korea can be integrated in the international community and be respected as an independent country and independent people from south korea, there will be caveats of course, particularly depending on their nuclear missile testing.
yes they can, germany was in the same situation. everyone wants reunification.@@emikomina
And then the meth wore off your face and you realized you need to make a quick buck to score again.
What change is that there is no East/West Germany, but Germany still very much divided. Almost nothing changed@@79002
No one does geopoltics like AL jazera. Fair play, deserves more coverage when most mainstream news outlets give you dumbed down 2 min segments for the suburban mum.
the world gone nuts
Absolutely ridiculous no one knows america is behind all these "troubled" spots in the world...😂
Biden and his co-offenders.
Not all but many. The US for example is truly not behind the tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia which I personally wish would end in Ethiopia's favor as it has suffered so much and made so many generous concessions and, unlike Eritrea, doesn't fund proxy conflict in their neighbor's borders after voluntarily giving away their entire sea access to its neighbor.
In general yes less meddling would be good. But in this particular case, If the US would have stayed out of the Korean war then the whole Korean peninsula would be under the control of the Kim regime. Which would be a much worse situation for millions of south koreans
lol, you are pathetic trash, go lick some dictator boots.
@Will-xf3qe you do know this is old propaganda and not relevant to nowadays right? Do you not know america hasn't advanced since the 80's and early 90's? You still use you your first tomahawk missile from the 80's...this is why you lost ukraine just like you like Afghanistan but quicker.
Amusing if it wasnt so tragic...
Kim never acted like he wanted reunification, more like he wanted to take over South Korea.
reunification under captalism is undo all the sacrifice the DPRK did
everyone knows nk is a bad actor, and until the world unites (or at least asia), one enemy will undo the other in solving anything.
His grandfather wanted reunification. His a more modern leader. Taking the path of Taiwan.
@@neilnelson7603 yea, the path of taiwan...
@@lucas10armond OK little fat man, keep starving your own people. Just leave the rest of the world out of your self genocide.
SK knows what really coming!!! Stay strong SK you've got this!!!
These people seem to be reacting to a speech other than the one Kim made but that is common. It is defined as insanity .
Women Across DMZ is a very 'famous' pro-North group. She did not disappoint my expectations.
I grew up with many south koreans, great people.
unless you like dogs.. they like to eat them...
@@darkbozo11 There's nothing wrong with eating dogs. The West are eating four legged animals too . Just because it's not called dogs, they are still an animals .
I agree but I think they are selling their culture cheaply
@tinaforbes1059 Humans are animals is it ok to eat them?
😂😂.... Koreans are azzholez
If he just changes the country’s name. Then it’s over and done with.
This is waaaarrr and it's on tonight, so step up, step up, step up, step up. Let's do this!!!
What is this guest with the glasses even saying... it sounds like gibberish I can't even understand him. What kind of accent is that?
Good, Kim realized he can risk losing power if he goes to war and he wants to keep that power.
My, my ! Everybody’s feelin’ Froggy today ! 🙏☮️🌎🌍🌏
Have All these military analysis, have taken In account the damage will cause to the south and Japan, a war with the north? They're just saying the end of kin dinasty, but no saying the end of the South Corean people and part of Japan
Let me work this out as the cover story for Vogue or GQ...❤❤
Malaysia noted..🇲🇾
Joseon ⚔ Goryeo .
What am I hearing here? US wanted both Korea to be reunified and never wanted Taiwan to reunify with the Mainland. Double standard 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
South Koreans' don't want to be unified with North Korea. Just go and ask them and neither does Taiwan want to be unified with the mainland. That's fine but the threats and missile launches need to end. Glad to hear you agree with a reckless dictator.
@@aikotoba99Gonna need more than your word for that.
North korea and china want to reunified by military power. so there is no double standard.
I think the US wanted South Korea to take North Korea under its wing, which is like America asking Taiwan to take China under its wing. Not the other way around as you are suggesting.
Classic Russian logic.
Nk has "no choice" to defend it by "attacking."
He is going to war. Russia's green light and china think it has a say 😂
Weather for Memphis in North Korea on Friday night
North and South Korea should remain peaceful and two countries
Hi bot
@@Landofjello howdy clown
Kim is trying to stay relevant, and thats dangerous.
Tactical discourse aimed at getting a rise…
Ms Evanston, South Korea won't repeat these meaningless Negociations till the end of the world. What is your point?
The guy in the middle needs subtitles.
I don't think this is about economy, I think brother now know their is no need to fight brother.
South Koreans have never treated North Koreans as 'brothers'. South Koreans view white Americans and Japanese as brothers.
If they’re not even using that as a bargaining chip anymore they must be very desperate. Putin would want them to go off. Not good. The crazy standoff has been normal for too long.
North Korea want foreign troops out of Peninsula, but South Korea president not only allowed USA troops stationed there and invited USA nuclear submarine to visit.
True
🙏🙏🙏
He could reunite his country to Sk and be a chaebol. This would probably make NK net positive especially for the people.
Unitedbkorea would be a nightmare for many countries, their competitors would shiver. If only both north and south knew how powerful their military and economy would be
To Al Jazeera news host Adrian Finighan
Many thanks for your VOD and your guests attention to the penisula. I again want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to your TH-cam operators.
According to your TH-cam clip, one may regard this recent North Korean leader's announcement as a dramatic shift or a shocking policy change on the penisula.
However, I need to address following depressive realities on the DMZ area on behalf of the 15th Rok President until June 2000.
First of all, I need to disagree on your news VOD if you really think North Korea made any dramatic change lately. Unfortunately, I am not able to confirm that dramatic shift until we pull this DMZ parallels off in order to check many documents inside the Labour party HQ building in the area. Simply showing a missile or two on a monitor screen or such announcements does not necessarily mean its originality. Nor the North leader doesn't fully understand the ROK constitution amendment process if he secretly followed. Certainly, Rok politicians had enough reason to circulate 65billion dollars and advertise in front of Seoul city hall in 2019. I think the North leader's announcement was meaningless because one deserted prison guard had an interview with Chosun daily a few years ago. He said that DPRK did not ever change their labour party protocol for north korean solders which defined the ROK as enemy while sunshine policy is on for last two decades or three. Eventhough the North leader wished to revise or amend its constitution in order to define the south side as one as he spoke on tv lately. The prison guard said the labour party protocol is more important than DPRK constitution to its armed force members in North Korea. Therefore, it was already enemy of the north when he wanted to make that announcement on tv. I do not know whether their protocol inside their HQ really defined the ROK as an enemy or not because it could be only a brain wash influence. However, it is yet to be figure out sooner or later. I think the north korean leader only wanted to make another TH-cam advertisement for some reason... probably upcoming election in the south side...I don't know.
This dramatic shift attempt was not that surprising to me indeed... only another depressing one...
One of your interviewee was talking about the North korean leader's engazement with US and enter into broader global community in this vod. I do not think that is real. DPRK and ROK joined in UN about three decades ago . Their leaders met in 2000 and agreed on nuke weapon free penisula completely as he announced in front of the Air Force one. Seoul city mayor was advertising for 65billion dollar nuke-money laundered to the north through a Swiss bank and MOFA minister gave 200billion if not 2500billion dollar money laundery impression to CNN in 2019 or 8.
reunification of the korean nation will happen in the future, but it will be postponed at least 2-3 generations,
Finnegan's Wake
እናተ የነጩ አለም መልክተኞች አለምን አትበጥብጡ ያለዝያ እራሳቹን እንግታቹሀለን የበጠበጣቹትን እኛ አንጋትም ለራሳቹ
Don’t know why they had that woman up there. She didn’t say anything that made sense
She's about the ONLY one who did
Why is Kim starting to apply so much pressure on the lifting western sanctions against his country
Because he wants to become like china?
Because the US sanctions nearly 2/3s of the world and this bs is getting real old for way too long.
👶🏽🍼Kim jong baby!
Dada
@dylandavis3518
The Emojis described ( represent ) to the infant playing with very dangerous toys. . . ( ICBM ).
Just opinion.
Little Kim has not seen his littler kim for a decade
*Through the Red Sea, Israel is begging for war toys and similar goods from foreign countries, especially America and India, which are helping Israel in sending war toys.*
I doubt it. India doesn't see Israel in a good light. India would require some favours in return that Israel would never agree to like military tech transfers. Whereas United States politicians and the minority Evangelic voting factions worship Israel as god chosen people. Most of the time give Israel whatever they want.
"Njala yamu nyokola"
Jong Un Boy bored of Peace and want to throw his missiles😂
South Korea is the best Korea.
Because it isnt sanctioned and US investment is heavily for the moment
The only korea
@@paulaheady8990 Maybe you gotta be friends with the US then
Watching Jong Un Kim enter his...parliament? And having every giving a standing clap reminds me of the stories about Stalin and how nobody wants to be the first one to stop clapping, so you get this absurdly long and enthusiastic never-ending ovation.
They love and revere their leader. I want to be loved like Kim Jong Un 🙈😳😂
@@Delitewon He has maintained a perfect golf score into his 30s, making him the greatest golfer since his father.
@@factotums
Why are you so jealous of him? 😳😂
Yes. Most of us do whatever it takes to prevent our families from being executed.
@@thompjackson And that's what makes those 'smiling' faces so creepy...
20:00 - it's not quite accurate to suggest that GW Bush was the one who derailed relations with the DPRK. The light water reactor deal was never funded or implemented by the US during the Clinton years, & DPRK waited almost a decade before resuming its nuclear program. Bush's "axis of evil" rhetoric certainly pushed things in a negative direction, but unending hostility towards the DPRK is very much a bipartisan status quo.
A smoke screen for his #1 fan and the "cult45."
Respect South Korea's Right for Self Defence.
You probably forget the fact that they don't even have rights to decide where their military goes to tomorrow morning. It's not self defense but a question when it will be used to fight a proxy war for the states.
😮
I don’t like it they’re about to launch a surprise attack or something
Sure, sure....guess what country is really against Korea ever reuniting again and becoming a competitor? Hm? Little clue: starts with U and ends with SA...
😂😂😂DPRK was never ever going to unite with South Korea
North Korean Oligarchs are Scared and they will Bite at any minor pressure.
This lady at 8 minute lol US is in Zero position to go to war obviously that’s why North Korea has leverage
It's not leverage so much as dangerous megalomania. The guy is unhinged and everyone knows it.
@@thompjackson here’s the thing brother I agree with you right, but you have to understand the way people who are against the West are thinking… despite the fact that we know Iran & the resistance are just the polar opposite of our presence in the Middle East and our foreign policies. For example, if we as Americans scrutinize Iran or NK or anyone else why don’t we apply the same to Israel’s Right Wing Extremist government? They assassinated their Prime Minister in 1995 tried to forgive the murderer who carried the act out so much so that the Knesset brought out a law that forbids forgiveness for anyone who assassinates the prime minister this was passed in like 2015-2016… the fact that Israel has funded Isis and others as well show that they are no different than Iran. The IDF censors everything so Israelis don’t know the reality of what’s going on… if we are being fair we should remove Netanyahu & Ben Gvir and everyone who is with them .. that being said we should also remove Hamas and any other extremist groups. Religion has nothing to do with this the Israelis & Arabs both are victims of the back & forth between Israel & Iran that goes back to the Iraq war and whatever before it up until today. Let’s just be fair and approach it without being biased to either side. I stand for the citizens of Israel & Palestine they’re innocent
This means war.
They ain’t doing nothing all talk no walk
Everybody loves Kim ❤❤
I don’t believe that
Asc
If Russia 🇷🇺 go against to n Korea?s Korea not going to help each other? I wander. Just question!both those countries r same people 😢
Tf is with this panned audio
Well in my opinion north Korean people believe there is only one Korea, perhaps he's just trying to change his own publics mind set and their view of what is happening or should be happening in what is south Korea, but hey there Korean I'm British so what do i know it's just my opinion
You can't negotiate peace with madmen.
this could be a final step to peace, if North Korea can become a normal country in the international community that could diffuse a lot of tension in East Asia
Sounds like reverse psychology to me....🤔
Un just wanting attention. Team Spirit has been going on b4 he was born. S. KOREA has not done anything N. Korea.
It really bothered me how often the interviewer cut off and curtailed Ji-Yeon Yuh’s responses. I understand that speaking times are probably agreed upon beforehand, that certain programs have set runtimes, and that part of the interviewer’s role is to make sure those rules are adhered to.
But there’s ways to do this subtly *without* constantly interrupting with an arrogant tone.
Disrespectful and annoying lol.
she was too emotional and kept going off topic. saying things the interviewer didn't even ask. i'm glad he intervened.
Agreed because in contrast to the narrow-minded and inattentive person who says she went off topic, she began to flesh out what the negotiating goals for diplomatic engagement would be for the US and how recognition would facilitate them rather than impede them. I think without her having addressed those issues, her overall point would have been less compelling.
@@netizencapet oddly, I can’t see your comment when I tap “view all 2 replies,” but I can if I tap the notification for yours in particular and am redirected to the video.
Weird.
Anyway, yes, agreed ✌🏻
😂😂😂
Time buying
What do people expect with s Korea and some of Asean running on dollar advisors and weapons bought by Japan?
The DPRK understands that the south will never unify with the North in peace while South Korea remains the proxy of US interests.
Never forget what they did in the Forgotten War.
{( means they will not be enemies for ever, peace is just over the horizon jtb )}IHMCSPQR
Another country where the US has left its mark, now a divided nation it is obvious that the North has lost its identity completely. Maybe it’s not so obvious to everybody, but North Korea is starving. As to the video, I can’t really understand what the guy in the middle is saying. The North Korean spokeswoman is so much easier on the ears. And the Chinese spokesman speaks very good English.
the guy in the middle probably knows what he's saying but i don't think anyone else does
How is this the US fault the soviets gave the ok for north to invade in 1950
The dude from bejing is such a joke. He has been wrong one every level on every conversation I have seen with him. No confidence. He is laughable at this point and should not even be recognized anymore.
He lives in the china bubble.
ZV🇰🇵
If S Korea is serious about reunification!
Should there be a third-party involvement?
Comment woukd be interesting!
😆😆😆
I’m pretty sure that if America minded her own business the world would be in a much better place!
You are a pathetic troll
If the American politicians and American wealthy elites minded their own business and stopped interfering in the world, for their own personal interest, at the cost to the country. The United States middle class wouldn't be crumbling into poverty. But those scumbags elites won't be able to eventually become trillionaires.
In a perfect world maybe. However, if the U.S. "minded" its own business then the Soviets would have taken over Europe, North Korea would have invaded South Korea, and China would have annexed most of Western Asia. I'm sure you are a very intelligent person, but you lack the background historical knowledge of the 20th century.
Lol
@@juanf5391so the USA stopped The Russian takeover and then took over for itself...the EU , Japan , South Korea are lapdogs of the USA with no real independent foreign policy they just follow the USA ....so either way The USA as Master or the Russians or the Chinese...but somehow the Muricans think that Being an American slave is better than to be enslaved to others.
Anybody else catch dude at the 2:34 falling asleep and catching himself in the moment....yea I'm sure the supreme leader did.... dudes dead now no doubt about it. Dishonor
Breaking news Beacon Tracker unjustified by Jamaica, England and America 2024 0
😉🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵😉✌🤓🐃📯
Mmmh so no united states no nato 😂😂😂
Hey Fydor !
Wash greasy hair
It should have been discussed by all Koreans or Asians, what's the white man doing up there
They bought up Shin Seung-KI. I'm not "white". whatever that means by now. I don't see an issue of having more professionals/experts on the matter. But I agree that people of the ethnicity would need to be in the center of the discussion, who have more understanding about the topic. However, North Korean specialists in economics and politics are hard to come by...
White men saved Asia from Japan during WWII. White men saved South Korea from North Korea in the Korean war.
there will never be unification, south koreans keep deluding themselves. The truth is for almost 70 years these are almost 2 different people now. If there was ever unification, one will never trust the other, then they will either crumble from within or inevitably break out in a civil war again. 2 different people with 2 different ideologies with a similar culture.
when war breaks out, not if, then if north korea occupies south korea, the south koreans will be treated as different people, they can't obviously trusted and would take generations before they can be fully integrated. vice versa if south korea occupies the north.
You can go to North Korea come back and let us know how that discussion went.
N Korea doesn't do anything without China approval
Yep.. north korean regime was also a soviet puppet too.
Lol not true, China don't have that kind of control over them. Infleunce, yes, control, far from it. NK often does a lot to annoy China
All bluff
maybe in the past but they have become friendlier with Russia and the bluffing is over.
@@isaacunrau5255 I think you might be right. I think it's WW3
@@isaacunrau5255 I must say Russia is no where near as strong as it was 2 years ago
@@user-ze1yx2hb7w You can say what you want but I listen more t MacGregor and Ritter. They tell a different story.
I think it depends on how China reacts. Xi jiping has been cracking down on his military generals which tends to make a country more vulnerable and less organized. Although the situation isn’t very clear, the problems with the housing market and prolonged deflation could have big ramifications. I think war in the Korean Peninsula wouldn’t be very beneficial for China. An extended presence of US navy ships could lead to the disruption of trade through the SCS which is the last thing China needs. But who knows, anything could happen in this world