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SEOUL, April 1 -- In an unexpected turn of events, Kim Jong-un, the First Secretary of the Korean Workers’ Party, announced at an Enlarged Meeting of the Politburo that Pyongyang would embark on a major policy shift, seeking to engage with the international community in good faith. “For too long, the people of North Korea have been deprived of the benefits of the 21st century,” Kim said in the hour-long address, which was also broadcast live by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). “We cannot wait any longer.” Kim said that Pyongyang would return to the stalled Six-Party Talks “without precondition,” resume bilateral dialogue with Seoul on “all relevant issues,” including reunions for separated families and the fate of South Korean prisoners of war, and “seek a full accounting” of all foreign abductees held in North Korea. In the address, Kim also acknowledged full responsibility for the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean Navy corvette, in March 2010. He also acknowledged receipt of the letter sent by the UN Commission of Inquiry in 2014 and invited the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean human rights, Marzuki Darusman, to visit North Korea, promising complete access to all sites, including the country’s political prison camps. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva confirmed that it had received a request from Pyongyang to begin high-level talks on technical assistance. In issuing an invitation to the Special Rapporteur, Kim admitted to the existence of these political prison camps, which the regime had firmly denied until today. These camps had been the focus of the international community's criticism of the North Korean regime's human rights record. Kim added that all UN agencies would be granted humanitarian access to these prison camps, effective immediately. The announcement also included domestic reforms, including a significant cut to its defense spending, the abolishment of its discriminatory class system, the lifting of domestic and international travel restrictions, and a series of economic measures aimed at restructuring and resuscitating the North Korean economy. International reactions to this address were largely positive. After an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, President Park Geun-hye of South Korea gave a press conference where she welcomed Kim’s statement. She noted that this was “a long overdue first step towards rebuilding trust on the Korean peninsula,” and a “crucial step on the path to reunification.” White House officials also heralded the move as a “historic decision,” stating that “we will continue to work very closely with our partners in Seoul in the coming weeks and months to respond to this unprecedented development.” They added that no unusual military activity has been detected inside North Korea since Kim's announcement, although the U.S. and South Korean military will maintain a heightened state of alert and readiness for the foreseeable future. An unnamed official at the State Department said that Kim’s policy shift was “an unambiguous victory” for the proponents of Strategic Patience, the administration’s policy towards North Korea that had come under intense criticism in the past few years. Tokyo also issued a positive statement, saying that it “looks forward to talks with Pyongyang to seek a full accounting of our abducted citizens,” and that it would “review the lifting of bilateral sanctions” that had only recently been imposed. Spokesperson Hong Lei of China's Foreign Ministry only gave brief remarks, calling for all parties to “exercise restraint and maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.” There have been reports of internal security forces being placed on high alert across China, possibly in preparation for an influx of refugees into the country’s three northeastern provinces. Moscow, which has invited Kim to attend its victory parade in early May, has yet to issue an official statement. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed Kim’s announcement, stating that all UN agencies would "do their utmost" to provide necessary assistance to the North Korean people. While assessing Kim's speech positively, Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman said "the international community must uphold the 'two-track approach' of continuing to seek full accountability for crimes against humanity even as it engages with North Korea." He added that his office will be arranging a visit to North Korea as soon as possible. Reactions were more mixed among the "expert" community. Professor Victor Cha of Georgetown University expressed surprise, stating that the “international community will have to watch very closely to see whether the regime follows through on its promises,” recalling Pyongyang’s past record of reneging on its international commitments. Nevertheless, he said, “it is very encouraging that North Korea is returning to negotiations.”
Professor Stephan Haggard of the University of California San Diego expressed no surprise, remarking "I have been following the closely held diplomacy out of the corner of my eye for months. Combined with massive shifts in personnel at the fourth highest level in all key political institutions, I knew something big was up."
Aidan Foster-Carter reached in England said "This astonishing shift in policy could auger the collapse of the regime. Or not."
Reached on an Acela train between New York and Washington, SAIS's Joel Wit simply stated "This shows I was right all along." Bryan Cheong, a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, said that he “breathed a sigh of relief” when he heard of Kim’s announcement. “I was always worried that I would have to use my taser one of these days. I've been practicing at home every day ever since that man burst into our office.” Alan Ahn, the owner of the pet fish residing in the office of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), a leading non-governmental organization that focuses on researching and raising awareness of North Korea’s human rights violations, reluctantly agreed to an interview in the early hours of the morning. “I’m not sure who gave you my number,” he said, laughing throughout. “And I’m really not the right person to talk to. My only connection to North Korea is that fish.” Shortly before ending the interview, Ahn made cryptic references “to the guy next door,” and "the guy who shares our office suite," saying that “he may know a thing or two about all this." He said that "you should really give him a call. He's probably pretty busy right now, though.”
