Seoul: In a drastic move that has shocked the international community, North Korea has announced that it has dissolved all the government bodies that were responsible for maintaining relations with South Korea. The decision, which was made at a meeting of the North Korean parliament on Monday, effectively ends any hope of dialogue and cooperation between the two rival nations.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that he has given up on the idea of reconciliation with South Korea, which he accused of being a puppet of the United States. He said that there is a “serious conflict” between the two Koreas and that it would be a “big mistake” for North Korea to regard South Korea as a diplomatic partner. He also blamed South Korea and the US for increasing the military tension in the region and threatening North Korea’s security and sovereignty.
The parliament, known as the Supreme People’s Assembly, issued a statement saying that it has abolished the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Republic of Korea, the National Bureau of Economic Cooperation, and the International Tourism Administration, which were established for dialogue, negotiation, and cooperation with South Korea. These agencies were the main channels of communication and collaboration between the two Koreas, especially after the historic summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018, which resulted in a joint declaration of peace and prosperity.
However, the relations between the two Koreas have deteriorated since then, as North Korea resumed its nuclear and missile tests and rejected South Korea’s offers of humanitarian aid and joint projects. The situation worsened last year when North Korea blew up a joint liaison office near the border and severed all official communication lines with South Korea.
KCNA reported that Kim has urged the parliament to amend the North Korean constitution to officially designate South Korea as its “greatest enemy state” at its next session. He also vowed to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear and military capabilities to deter any external aggression. He said that North Korea will pursue a “new way” of dealing with South Korea and the US, without elaborating on what that means.
The announcement by North Korea has drawn strong condemnation from South Korea and the US, as well as other countries and international organizations. They have called on North Korea to resume dialogue and refrain from any provocative actions that could jeopardize the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the world. They have also expressed their concern about the human rights and humanitarian situation of the North Korean people, who are suffering from economic hardship and isolation.
