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신선호 유엔 주재 북한 대사의 기자회견을 통한 북한의 연이은 평화 공세에도 한•미 양국은 비핵화를 위한 진정성 있는 태도 변화를 촉구하며 초지일관하는 모습을 보였다.
신 대사는 21일(현지시간) 뉴욕 유엔본부에서 기자회견을 열고 지난 16일에 있었던 고위급 회담 제의를 언급하며 “미국과의 대화에서는 한반도 긴장완화, 정전협정의 평화협정으로의 교체, 비핵화 문제 등을 모두 논의할 수 있다”고 말했다.
같은 날 중국을 방문중인 북한 김계관 외무성 제1부상도 중국 양제츠 외교담당 국무위원을 만나 북한은 한반도의 긴장완화를 희망하고 있으며 핵 문제 해결을 위한 대화자세를 견지하고 있다면서 “6자회담을 포함한 어떤 형태의 대화도 환영한다”고 말했다고 신화통신이 보도했다.
그러나 신 대사는 경제제재 철회와 더불어 “아시아•태평양 지역의 평화와 안정을 수호하기 위한 필수적 도구”라며 유엔군사령부 해체를 요구했다.
그는 “비핵화는 우리의 최종목적이지만 일방적인 비핵화는 있을 수 없다”면서 “미국이 북한에 대한 적대정책에 매달려 위협하는 한 ‘자위적 전쟁(핵)억지력’을 절대 포기하지 않을 것”이라고 말했다.
한국 정부 당국자는 이러한 기자회견이 새로운 메시지도, 진정성도 보여주지 않았다며 한•중 정상회담을 앞두고 북한 자신들의 대화 노력을 선전하기 위한 것이라고 평가했다.
미국 국무부 패트릭 벤트렐 대변인도 21일 정례 브리핑에서 기자회견을 보지 못했다고 전제하면서도 신 대사의 주장은 “과거부터 익히 들어오던 말”이라고 평가절하했다.
그는 “유엔군 사령부는 한국에 실제로 오랫동안 주둔해 있었고 앞으로도 그럴 것이며 북한에 대한 미국의 제재도 계속될 것”이라고 덧붙였다.
그러나 비핵화에 대한 현격한 입장 차이에도 불구하고 6자회담 당사국들이 북핵문제 해결을 위한 활발한 외교전을 펼침에 따라 대화준비 국면의 모습이 나타나고 있다.
북한은 지난달 최룡해 인민군 총정치국장을 중국에 보내 6자회담을 포함한 대화와 협상을 제시한 이후 각각 납북자 문제와 개성공단 등의 현안을 연결 고리로 일본과 접촉하고 우리측에는 당국회담을 제안했다.
북한은 이어 미국에 고위급 회담을 제의했고 미국과의 핵협상을 총괄해온 김 제1부상을 지난 19∼22일 중국에 보내 6자회담 복귀 의사를 시사했다. 김계관은 조만간 러시아도 방문할 것으로 알려졌다.
이러한 움직임과 맞물려 한•미•일 3국의 6자회담 수석대표는 19일(현지시간) 회동, 9•19 공동성명의 이행을 위한 의지를 재확인했다.
한국 6자회담 수석대표인 조태용 외교부 한반도평화교섭본부장은 대화를 위한 전제조건으로 ‘북미 2•29 합의 + 알파(α)’를 제시하고 21일 베이징으로 건너가 중국 6자회담 수석대표 우다웨이(武大偉) 한반도사무특별대표와의 만나 한반도의 비핵화와 북한의 핵보유국 불인정 입장을 재확인했다.
한편 27일로 예정된 한•중 정상회담이 향후 남북대화 재개 등 한반도 위기상황의 중대한 변곡점이 될 수 있다는 관측이 조심스럽게 제기되고 있다.
특히 중국은 핵과 미사일을 앞세워 도발을 지속하고 있는 북한을 직접적으로 압박할 수 있는 유일한 나라로, 박근혜 대통령이 시진핑(習近平) 중국 국가주석과의 정상회담에서 북한 비핵화에 대해 어느 정도 수준의 합의를 끌어낼 지가 북한의 향후 행보에 큰 영향을 미칠 전망이다.
또한 비핵화 대화 재개를 위한 조건 탐색은 6자회담국 외교 수장이 모두 참석할 것으로 보이는 내달 2일 아세안지역안보포럼(ARF) 이후 본격화할 것으로 예상된다.
유호열 고려대학교 북한학과 교수는 “신 대사의 기자회견과 김계관의 방중은 지난 한달 정도 북한이 외교공세를 펼쳐온 연장선상에 있는 것으로 한•중 정상회담과 다음달 정전협정 체결 60주년과 관련이 있다”고 말했다.
그는 북한이 ‘한반도 비핵화 실현‘은 김일성과 김정일의 유훈이라고 한 점을 상기, “일단은 핵보유국 주장에 무게를 실어 자신들의 입장을 표명하면서 또 상대방의 반응을 살펴가면서 새로운 협상의 포석을 마련하려고 하는 것으로 보인다”며 “다음달에는 본격적으로 평화공세를 펼칠 것”으로 전망했다.
(코리아헤럴드 신현희 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
South Korea, U.S. unwavering after N.K. overture, warnings
Brisk diplomacy boosts prospects for six-party talks resumption
By Shin Hyon-hee
South Korea and the U.S. remained unwavering in their demands for North Korea’s sincerity toward denuclearization despite the communist state’s peace offensive intensified by a top envoy’s rare news conference at the U.N. over the weekend.
North Korean Ambassador Sin Son-ho in New York on Friday reaffirmed Pyongyang’s offer of senior-level talks with Washington to defuse tension, discuss a peace mechanism to replace the 1953 armistice and resolve the nuclear weapons issue.
The event came shortly after Kim Kye-gwan, a North Korean vice foreign minister in charge of nuclear bargaining, reiterated the regime’s willingness to engage in “various dialogues including the six-party talks” at a meeting with Yang Jiechi, a Chinese State Councilor in charge of foreign affairs.
But the newest overture was mixed with calls for a lifting of economic sanctions and dismantling of the U.N. Command in the South, which is led by the U.S. that also provides a nuclear umbrella.
North Korea will not give up its “self-defense (nuclear) deterrent” unless the U.S. withdraws its “hostile” policy and nuclear weapons from the peninsula, Sin said.
“The U.S. Command is the U.S. command in essence,” he added in a 10-page statement, calling the unit a “tool of war for aggression which was organized by the U.S.”
Seoul and Washington, however, again dismissed Sin’s remarks as an old tactic that is used chiefly to entice international attention but has little substance.
A government official here said the rare press conference did not show Pyongyang’s sincere attitude toward dialogue. It appeared to be a “face-saving attempt” targeting a South Korea-China summit later this week, where North Korea’s denuclearization will likely top the agenda, the official said.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said Sin’s claims have been repeated by the regime for years, though he had not seen the full context immediately.
“The U.N. command is something that’s been there for many years and will continue to be. … And our sanctions will continue,” he told a daily briefing.
The allies have called on the Kim Jong-un regime to prove its sincerity with preemptive steps toward denuclearization before returning to the negotiating table.
Cho Tae-yong, Seoul’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs and top nuclear negotiator, last week raised the need for “stronger obligations” on the North for any restart of talks than those stipulated in its broken agreement with the U.S. on Feb. 29, 2012.
Under the so-called Leap Day Deal, Pyongyang agreed to put a moratorium on its nuclear enrichment program, stop atomic and missile tests and allow IAEA inspections in exchange for 240,000 tons of food aid.
Despite the persistent standoff, brisk diplomacy among the key partners is boosting the prospect for a resumption of a six-nation forum, which was launched in 2003 with the goal of denuclearizing the North but has been dormant since late 2008.
Cho laid out the preconditions after meeting in Washington with Glyn Davies, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, and Shinsuke Sugiyama, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s director-general of Asian and Oceanian affairs.
On the way back, Cho visited Beijing for two days from Thursday to hold talks with Wu Dawei, China’s special representative for Korean peninsular affairs. They discussed issues including how to resume the six-party talks, and confirmed that they would not acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, diplomats said.
Kim Kye-kwan, the four envoys’ North Korean counterpart at the six-party talks, returned home Saturday after a four-day trip to Beijing which included meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, state media said. Kim is also believed to be planning to travel soon to Russia, the other six-party forum member.
A watershed moment may come after the first summit between presidents Park Geun-hye and Xi Jinping on Thursday in Beijing. They are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the denuclearization of the peninsula, but Xi may well persuade Park into “not losing a chance at talks” with the northern neighbor.
Further, the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held next week in Brunei could set the stage for dialogue between top diplomats from Seoul, Pyongyang, Washington and other key players, observers say.
“Sin’s news conference and Kim’s trip are an extension of North Korea’s diplomatic offensive ahead of the South Korea-China summit and next month’s 60th anniversary of the armistice agreement,” said Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea studies professor at Korea University in Seoul.
Despite Pyongyang’s steadfast nuclear ambitions, he noted as a possible sign of tactical change its recent reference to denuclearization as a “precept” of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the two late autocrats and the incumbent ruler’s grandfather and father.
“North Korea seems to be giving weight to its claim for a nuclear state as the groundwork for a new round of negotiation while closely watching other countries’ reactions. Its peace offensive will likely kick into high gear next month,” Yoo told The Korea Herald.
(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
South Korea, U.S. unwavering after N.K. overture, warnings
Brisk diplomacy boosts prospects for six-party talks resumption
By Shin Hyon-hee
South Korea and the U.S. remained unwavering in their demands for North Korea’s sincerity toward denuclearization despite the communist state’s peace offensive intensified by a top envoy’s rare news conference at the U.N. over the weekend.
North Korean Ambassador Sin Son-ho in New York on Friday reaffirmed Pyongyang’s offer of senior-level talks with Washington to defuse tension, discuss a peace mechanism to replace the 1953 armistice and resolve the nuclear weapons issue.
The event came shortly after Kim Kye-gwan, a North Korean vice foreign minister in charge of nuclear bargaining, reiterated the regime’s willingness to engage in “various dialogues including the six-party talks” at a meeting with Yang Jiechi, a Chinese State Councilor in charge of foreign affairs.
But the newest overture was mixed with calls for a lifting of economic sanctions and dismantling of the U.N. Command in the South, which is led by the U.S. that also provides a nuclear umbrella.
North Korea will not give up its “self-defense (nuclear) deterrent” unless the U.S. withdraws its “hostile” policy and nuclear weapons from the peninsula, Sin said.
“The U.S. Command is the U.S. command in essence,” he added in a 10-page statement, calling the unit a “tool of war for aggression which was organized by the U.S.”
Seoul and Washington, however, again dismissed Sin’s remarks as an old tactic that is used chiefly to entice international attention but has little substance.
A government official here said the rare press conference did not show Pyongyang’s sincere attitude toward dialogue. It appeared to be a “face-saving attempt” targeting a South Korea-China summit later this week, where North Korea’s denuclearization will likely top the agenda, the official said.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said Sin’s claims have been repeated by the regime for years, though he had not seen the full context immediately.
“The U.N. command is something that’s been there for many years and will continue to be. … And our sanctions will continue,” he told a daily briefing.
The allies have called on the Kim Jong-un regime to prove its sincerity with preemptive steps toward denuclearization before returning to the negotiating table.
Cho Tae-yong, Seoul’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs and top nuclear negotiator, last week raised the need for “stronger obligations” on the North for any restart of talks than those stipulated in its broken agreement with the U.S. on Feb. 29, 2012.
Under the so-called Leap Day Deal, Pyongyang agreed to put a moratorium on its nuclear enrichment program, stop atomic and missile tests and allow IAEA inspections in exchange for 240,000 tons of food aid.
Despite the persistent standoff, brisk diplomacy among the key partners is boosting the prospect for a resumption of a six-nation forum, which was launched in 2003 with the goal of denuclearizing the North but has been dormant since late 2008.
Cho laid out the preconditions after meeting in Washington with Glyn Davies, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, and Shinsuke Sugiyama, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s director-general of Asian and Oceanian affairs.
On the way back, Cho visited Beijing for two days from Thursday to hold talks with Wu Dawei, China’s special representative for Korean peninsular affairs. They discussed issues including how to resume the six-party talks, and confirmed that they would not acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, diplomats said.
Kim Kye-kwan, the four envoys’ North Korean counterpart at the six-party talks, returned home Saturday after a four-day trip to Beijing which included meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, state media said. Kim is also believed to be planning to travel soon to Russia, the other six-party forum member.
A watershed moment may come after the first summit between presidents Park Geun-hye and Xi Jinping on Thursday in Beijing. They are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the denuclearization of the peninsula, but Xi may well persuade Park into “not losing a chance at talks” with the northern neighbor.
Further, the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held next week in Brunei could set the stage for dialogue between top diplomats from Seoul, Pyongyang, Washington and other key players, observers say.
“Sin’s news conference and Kim’s trip are an extension of North Korea’s diplomatic offensive ahead of the South Korea-China summit and next month’s 60th anniversary of the armistice agreement,” said Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea studies professor at Korea University in Seoul.
Despite Pyongyang’s steadfast nuclear ambitions, he noted as a possible sign of tactical change its recent reference to denuclearization as a “precept” of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the two late autocrats and the incumbent ruler’s grandfather and father.
“North Korea seems to be giving weight to its claim for a nuclear state as the groundwork for a new round of negotiation while closely watching other countries’ reactions. Its peace offensive will likely kick into high gear next month,” Yoo told The Korea Herald.
(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)
