​Kim's train journey toward peace

By Sajjad Malik
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, April 2, 2018
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Xi Jinping (2nd R), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R) meet with Kim Jong Un (2nd L), chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and his wife Ri Sol Ju at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. At the invitation of Xi, Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from March 25 to 28. During the visit, Xi held talks with Kim. [Photo/Xinhua]


Kim Jong-un's unofficial train trip to Beijing and back might go down in history as an extremely significant political journey. But it should not be viewed in isolation. The success of the journey will be linked with the success of his two upcoming meetings with the leaders of South Korea and the United States.  

Kim and all those involved in this latest round of proactive diplomacy to address the causes of recurrent tension on the troubled Korean peninsula will be remembered as bold and visionary leaders if they can finally achieve the goal of stability and peaceful co-existence.  

Kim's train journey was initially kept under wraps, but essential details were later released, indicating that he had very positive interactions with Xi Jinping, whom he looks up to as an elder statesman for guidance in untangling the intricate puzzle of Korea. 

Reports suggest that Kim showed his willingness to build long-term peace by agreeing to denuclearize if the right atmosphere is created and his demands are met. It is a major concession, as giving up nuclear weapons means surrendering a formidable weapon and potential leverage against opponents.

It is a bold move and also a highly surprising one that was unthinkable until recently. President Donald Trump has been taking credit for pushing the Korean leader and forcing him to say that denuclearization was an option for negotiations of peace.

Kim's visit to Beijing was well-structured and provided visual affirmation for onlookers to believe in the substance attached to it. Even without interaction with the Chinese media and the lack of opportunity to ask questions of the Korean leader, he conveyed what he wanted to tell. 

For instance, the deep green color of the train in which he traveled could be taken as a sort of "green light" for productive engagement with other leaders. Green is also the color of life, productivity and prosperity. It is symbol of conservation and nature, which are considered vital for a climate that is threatened by the use of nuclear weapons. 

The results of the train-borne diplomacy are already coming out and officials from North and South Korea have agreed to hold the planned summit between their leaders on Apr. 27 in the truce village of Panmunjom. The meeting will take place at Peace House, a building belonging to South Korea.

It will be the third summit between the two sides, but the first in which a top North Korean leader will set foot on the South Korean soil since the end of the Korean War (1950-53). The first and second summits were held in Pyongyang in 2000 and 2007.

The Beijing visit helped build momentum toward the coming inter-Korean summit. Its success is expected to pave the way for the summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. Already Trump has welcomed Kim's meeting with Xi by saying that he was also keen to meet Kim. 

These events show a sea change in the attitude of Trump, who just a few months ago in his address to the U.N. General Assembly not only threatened to destroy North Korea but also ridiculed its leader. This war of words added to the existing tension and animosity.  

The objective of the latest diplomatic flurry is to strike some kind of deal on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Once a far cry, it now seems doable. Even general consensus on the broader contours of a deal will represent a huge achievement. The final agreement may take months or even years. 

It remains to be seen what the U.S. will concede in upcoming weeks in return for North Korea's readiness for denuclearization. The first test of the new bonhomie will be the start on Monday of annual military drills by American and South Korean armies, which traditionally the North has seen as a provocation. 

Nevertheless, the current events are happening in a state of emergency. Fast-track open diplomacy is good, but more solid work can be done through back channels. It would be unwise to unnecessarily rush a deal which cannot be honored, or to agree on a timeframe which cannot be kept. 

A bad deal is worse than no deal at all. And for a good peace deal, it is important that all stakeholders take equal part and freely accept it in letter and spirit.   

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.


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