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UNCLASSIFIEDWednesday, 11 February 2009Two Birds with One Stone: Attention from the US; Conciliation from the ROK
MAJ Steve Sin, USA; and Ms. Su Goodwin, CIV
Summary:
On 30 Jan, the North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Fatherland (CPRF) issued astatement that is will “nullify” 1) “all the agreed points concerning the issue of putting an end to the political andmilitary confrontation between the north and the south”; and 2) the Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-aggression,Cooperation and Exchange between the North and the South and the points on the military boundary line – theNorthern Limit Line (NLL) – in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) stipulated in its appendix.” In the statement, North Koreablasted the Republic of Korea (ROK) government and said the hard-line policies of Lee Myung-bak forced it to nullifythe accords. The 30 Jan statement is the second threatening statement North Korea has made this year thatmentioned the NLL. On 17 Jan, a spokesman of the North Korean People's Army (KPA) General Staff issued astatement announcing that because the Lee Myung-bak government of South Korea has continued to insist on ahostile policy toward North Korea and it will conduct "all-out confrontation" against the South.
Recent series of rhetoric and threats surrounding the NLL seems to be a set of political maneuvering on the part of North Korea. Acontinuing leitmotif of North Korean regional foreign policy is its aim to establish diplomatic relations with the US while isolating the ROK from the regional diplomatic and security forums. The statements from 17 and 30 Jan served as a vehicle to maintain the US’ focus in the region and engagement with the North to bring to fruition Kim Jong-il’s deep seated desire to normalize diplomatic relations with the US. Through the same two statements, the North has conveyed the ROK administration its mounting displeasure about the current ROK policy on North Korea.
Please direct your questions and comments to MAJ Steve Sin, Chief, USFK J2 OSINT:DSN – (315) 725-5045, Commercial – +82-2-7915-5045, or Email – CIOCCAOSINT@us.army.mil
Information contained in this document is entirely derived from unclassified, open source, information. This product is basedexclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components.This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners.
UNCLASSIFIED
 
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