We start a discussion on an issue making headlines.
Over the weekend, the North Korean leader's
younger sister Kim Yo-jong threatened military
action against South Korea,... after unloading
a stream of insults on state media over the
past few weeks.
These are worrying developments in inter-Korean
relations, considering that Monday marks the
20th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Statement
reached by the two sides at their first ever
summit,... where they pledged cooperation
and dialogue for peace.
The relationship since then has been up and
down, and we take a look at the latest turn
with Bong Young-sik, Lecturer at Sogang University
Graduate School of International Studies and
Researcher at Yonsei University Institute
for North Korean Studies.
We're also joined by Jenny Town, Fellow at
Stimson Center based in Washington D.C. and
deputy director of North Korea monitoring
project 38North.
Kim Yo-jong has been very outspoken in recent
weeks, threatening to end the military agreement
between Seoul and Pyeongyang reached in 2018,...
and she's now saying it's better to take retaliatory
measures than continuing to release statements
condemning the South.
1. Why is the North so unhappy with the South?
What's the motivation behind the stream of
verbal abuse we've been hearing in recent
weeks?
2. How seriously should we be taking this
threat of military action? If North Korea
does act, what form of provocation do you
think we'll see?
3. How should South Korea respond to these
threats? Some argue the government has been
meek in its response thus far.
4. All these developments have come after
Kim Jong-un's disappearance from the public
eye, rumors of his ailing health, and as always,
speculation that the economy is in even bigger
trouble than ever. What do you think is going
on inside the regime? Have there 
been signs of instability?
5. Kim Yo-jong's role in the regime has grown
significantly since the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter
Olympics, and most notably in recent months,
especially with her media presence. This can't
just be because she's good at her job. Why
do you
think Kim Jong-un, or the regime, has bestowed
her so much power so quickly? Or what kind
of role is she being made to play?
Is she going to play a bigger role in inter-Korean
relations going forward?
6. What do you expect to see in inter-Korean
relations in the coming months. Do you think
there's
room
for
a turnaround in relations, or at least some
easing of tensions?
This is where we'll have to wrap up the discussion.
It's been great to hear
your insights on this. Bong Young-shik in
Seoul and Jenny Town in Washington D.C., thank
you
for joining the programme.
