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북한정부가 16일 국방위원회 대변인 중대담화에서 북미 당국 간 고위급 회담을 제안했다.
북한이 제안한 회담에는 군사적 긴장 완화와 정전체제의 평화체제 전환, 그리고 핵 없는 세계 건설 등 관련 문제들이 논의 될 것으로 예측된다.
이번 제안은 남북당국회담이 지난 화요일 갑자기 무산된 지 5일만에 나온 것으로, 박근혜 대통령과 시진핑 국가주석의 6월 27일 회담에 간접적인 영향을 노린 것이라는 의견도 있다.
전문가들은 백악관이 곧바로 이 제안을 수용하지 않을 수도 있다고 말하며 한반도 비핵화를 대화의 전제로 내세워서는 안 된다고 지적했다.
국방위 대변인은 “조선반도(한반도)의 긴장을 완화하고 미국 본토를 포함한 지역의 평화와 안전을 담보하는 데 진실로 관심이 있다면 조(북)미 당국 사이에 고위급 회담을 가질 것을 제안한다”라고 밝혔다고 조선중앙통신이 보도했다.
국방위 대변인은 이어 “조선반도(한반도)의 비핵화는 김일성 주석과 김정일위원장의 유훈”이라며 “우리에 대한 미국의 핵 위협을 완전히 종식시킬 것을 목표로 내세운 가장 철저한 비핵화”라고 주장했다.
대변인은 또 회담 장소와 시일은 미국의 편의에 따라 정하면 될 것이라며 “차례진 기회를 놓치지 말고 우리(북한)의 대범한 용단과 선의에 적극 호응해 나와야 할 것”이라고 말했다.
마지막 북미 고위급회담은 작년 2월 김계관 외무성 부상과 글린 데이비스 미국 대북정책 특별대표의 만남으로 ‘2.29합의’를 끌어냈었다.
2.29 합의는 미국이 24만톤의 식량지원을 하는 대가로 북한의 비핵화 사전조치를 골자로 하고 있다. 하지만 지난 4월 북한의 장거리 로켓 발사로 합의는 무산이 됐고 북미 간 상호 불신만 더 악화시켰다.
전문가들은 북한이 미국과의 대화를 유도하면서 남한은 따돌리는 ‘통미봉남’의 전술을 펼치는 것이라며 한미동맹이 강한 요즘 같은 상황에서는 통하기 힘든 전략이라고 지적했다.
세종연구소 홍현익 연구원은 “박근혜 대통령이 시진핑 주석과의 회담을 적극적으로 준비하는 것에 대해 북한은 자신들이 점점 더 고립될 수 있다는 두려움이 생길 수 있다”며 “지난 주 무산된 회담의 원인은 남한이라는 비난과 함께 한국을 따돌리는 것으로 보인다”라고 말했다.
그는 이어 “북한이 (북미 간) 대화를 제안함으로써, 다자회담을 추구하고 있는 중국을 지지하고 동맹국에게 대화에 대한 강한 의지를 보여줄 수 있다”라고 강조했다.
전문가들은 미국의 계속된 비핵화 요구에도 불구하고 북한이 제안한 이번 대화는 한반도 비핵화 문제를 제외시켰다며 회의적인 태도를 보였다.
글린 데이비스는 지난 14일 우드로윌슨국제학술센터(WWICS)의 포럼에서 “결론적으로 미국은 북한의 입장을 (그들의) ‘말’이 아니라 ‘행동’으로 판단하겠다”고 말하며 “인권문제부터 핵 확산 문제까지 국제사회가 우려하고 있는 문제들에 대해 구체적인 행동방안을 마련해야 한다고 했다.
그는 또 “비핵화를 향한 노력들은 평화와 번영 및 미국을 포함한 각 국과의 발전된 관계로 이어질 것이다”라고 덧붙였다.
전문가들은 헌법에 스스로를 ‘핵보유국’이라고 명시한 북한이 이번 의제에 ‘핵무기 없는 세상’이라는 주제를 넣는 모순적인 행동을 보이고 있다고 의견을 표했다.
또, 올해 초 북한은 핵무장과 경제 발전을 추구하는 정책을 도입한 바가 있다.
서강대학교 소속 북한 전문가 김영수 씨는 이번 제안이 “어차피 미국에게 받아들여지긴 힘들다는 것을 알면서 시도는 했다는 것을 보여주기 위함”이라고 말했다.
그는 “비핵화 문제가 협상 테이블에서 제외됐는데 왜 미국이 북한과 대화하려고 하겠냐”며 “당연히 미국이 제안을 받아들이지 않을 것을 알면서 한 것”이라고 주장했다.
김 씨는 이어 미국이 이번 제안을 퇴짜 놓는다면 북한은 바로 국민들에게 ‘미국이 우리의 화해의 손길을 차갑게 뿌리쳤다’는 식의 발표하면서 국민 단결을 강화하려 할 것이라고 했다.
세계북한연구소 안찬일 소장은 미국이 제안을 거절하면 북한 정부가 또 무력을 내운 위협적인 전략을 펼칠 수 있다고 우려를 표했다.
안찬일 소장은 “이번 제안을 거절하면 북한은 정전협정 60주년인 오는 6월 27일까지 도발적인 전략을 다시 펼칠 수도 있다”고 말하며 “중국이 미국과 함께 북한의 핵무장에 맞서게 된다면 미국이 과연 이번 제안을 받아들이게 될지는 의문이다”라고 말했다.
기사: 송상호 기자
번역: 석지현 기자
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
<관련 영문 기사>
N. Korea proposes high-level talks with U.S.
North Korea on Sunday proposed high-level talks with the U.S. over military tensions, a peace treaty and the U.S. proposal for a nuclear-free world.
The proposal from the powerful National Defense Commission came after it scuttled an inter-Korean meeting last Tuesday amid a dispute over the rank of delegation chiefs, weeks before President Park Geun-hye’s summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 27.
Experts said Washington, which cherishes its robust alliance with Seoul, might not readily accept the overture, pointing out Pyongyang insisted peninsular denuclearization should not be a precondition for the talks.
“North Korea proposes high-level talks should the U.S. be truly interested in reducing tension on the Korean Peninsula and securing peace and stability in the region and the U.S. mainland,” said an unnamed spokesperson of the top governing body in a “significant statement.”
Carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, the statement said peninsular denuclearization was the wish of late former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, but stressed the North will stick to its nuclear programs until nuclear threats from outside “completely end.”
The statement also said the date and venue for the meeting can be set at Washington’s own convenience, urging it to come forward for the talks with “brave determination and goodwill” and not to miss the chance should it really want peace.
The last high-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang took place in February 2012 when Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan and Glyn Davies, special representative for North Korea Policy, met to reach the so-called Leap Day deal.
The deal, under which Pyongyang agreed to put a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests in return for 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance, was breached after the North fired a long-range rocket in April -- an incident that deepened mutual distrust.
Experts said the North appeared to be using its typical tactic once again of seeking direct talks with the U.S. while sidelining the South, which they said would no longer work given the strongest-ever alliance between the allies.
“As Seoul is seriously preparing for the upcoming summit with Xi Jinping, Pyongyang might fear they could be further isolated. With the criticism that it was the South that broke the inter-Korean talks last week, it appears to be sidelining Seoul,” said Hong Hyun-ik, research fellow at the think tank Sejong Institute.
“By proposing talks, the North could also support China which has sought to resume the multilateral talks on its denuclearization and show to its ally that it is fulfilling the promise to pursue dialogue.”
Analysts remained skeptical over the talks, arguing the North had excluded peninsular denuclearization from the agenda. Washington has long urged the North to show sincerity in its denuclearization efforts should it want better ties with it.
“Ultimately, we will judge the DPRK (the North) not by it words but by its actions, the concrete actions it takes to address the core concerns of the international community, ranging from human rights to nuclear proliferation,” Glyn Davies said during his remarks at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Friday.
“Meaningful steps toward denuclearization can lead to a path of peace, prosperity and improved ties with the world, including with the U.S.”
Observers also noted Pyongyang, which proclaimed itself as a nuclear-armed state in its constitution last year, contradicted itself by putting the issue of a nuclear-free world on the agenda. Earlier this year, the North also adopted a policy of concurrently pursuing economic development and nuclear armament.
“It is apparently a proposal intended just to make a record of Pyongyang itself trying first to hold dialogue with the U.S. given that it may know that such a proposal could hardly be accepted by the U.S.,” said Kim Young-soo, North Korea expert at Sogang University.
“Why would Washington talk with Pyongyang when denuclearization is off the table? It made the proposal when it was well aware that the U.S. would not say yes to that.”
Kim added should the U.S. spurn the overture, the North would say to the domestic audience that Washington cold-heartedly ignored its conciliatory gesture, and try to use it to strengthen national unity.
Ahn Chan-il, the director of the World North Korea Research Center, expressed concerns that after Washington turned down the proposal, the unpredictable regime could set off another round of saber-rattling moves.
“Should the proposal be spurned, the North could resort to its provocative tactics until July 27 (the anniversary of the armistice agreement),” he said. “When China stands with the U.S. against the North’s nuclear armament, I am not sure whether Washington would be willing to accept the proposal.”
By Song Sang-ho
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
N. Korea proposes high-level talks with U.S.
North Korea on Sunday proposed high-level talks with the U.S. over military tensions, a peace treaty and the U.S. proposal for a nuclear-free world.
The proposal from the powerful National Defense Commission came after it scuttled an inter-Korean meeting last Tuesday amid a dispute over the rank of delegation chiefs, weeks before President Park Geun-hye’s summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 27.
Experts said Washington, which cherishes its robust alliance with Seoul, might not readily accept the overture, pointing out Pyongyang insisted peninsular denuclearization should not be a precondition for the talks.
“North Korea proposes high-level talks should the U.S. be truly interested in reducing tension on the Korean Peninsula and securing peace and stability in the region and the U.S. mainland,” said an unnamed spokesperson of the top governing body in a “significant statement.”
Carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, the statement said peninsular denuclearization was the wish of late former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, but stressed the North will stick to its nuclear programs until nuclear threats from outside “completely end.”
The statement also said the date and venue for the meeting can be set at Washington’s own convenience, urging it to come forward for the talks with “brave determination and goodwill” and not to miss the chance should it really want peace.
The last high-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang took place in February 2012 when Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan and Glyn Davies, special representative for North Korea Policy, met to reach the so-called Leap Day deal.
The deal, under which Pyongyang agreed to put a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests in return for 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance, was breached after the North fired a long-range rocket in April -- an incident that deepened mutual distrust.
Experts said the North appeared to be using its typical tactic once again of seeking direct talks with the U.S. while sidelining the South, which they said would no longer work given the strongest-ever alliance between the allies.
“As Seoul is seriously preparing for the upcoming summit with Xi Jinping, Pyongyang might fear they could be further isolated. With the criticism that it was the South that broke the inter-Korean talks last week, it appears to be sidelining Seoul,” said Hong Hyun-ik, research fellow at the think tank Sejong Institute.
“By proposing talks, the North could also support China which has sought to resume the multilateral talks on its denuclearization and show to its ally that it is fulfilling the promise to pursue dialogue.”
Analysts remained skeptical over the talks, arguing the North had excluded peninsular denuclearization from the agenda. Washington has long urged the North to show sincerity in its denuclearization efforts should it want better ties with it.
“Ultimately, we will judge the DPRK (the North) not by it words but by its actions, the concrete actions it takes to address the core concerns of the international community, ranging from human rights to nuclear proliferation,” Glyn Davies said during his remarks at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Friday.
“Meaningful steps toward denuclearization can lead to a path of peace, prosperity and improved ties with the world, including with the U.S.”
Observers also noted Pyongyang, which proclaimed itself as a nuclear-armed state in its constitution last year, contradicted itself by putting the issue of a nuclear-free world on the agenda. Earlier this year, the North also adopted a policy of concurrently pursuing economic development and nuclear armament.
“It is apparently a proposal intended just to make a record of Pyongyang itself trying first to hold dialogue with the U.S. given that it may know that such a proposal could hardly be accepted by the U.S.,” said Kim Young-soo, North Korea expert at Sogang University.
“Why would Washington talk with Pyongyang when denuclearization is off the table? It made the proposal when it was well aware that the U.S. would not say yes to that.”
Kim added should the U.S. spurn the overture, the North would say to the domestic audience that Washington cold-heartedly ignored its conciliatory gesture, and try to use it to strengthen national unity.
Ahn Chan-il, the director of the World North Korea Research Center, expressed concerns that after Washington turned down the proposal, the unpredictable regime could set off another round of saber-rattling moves.
“Should the proposal be spurned, the North could resort to its provocative tactics until July 27 (the anniversary of the armistice agreement),” he said. “When China stands with the U.S. against the North’s nuclear armament, I am not sure whether Washington would be willing to accept the proposal.”
By Song Sang-ho
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
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