Why Choose Clinton to Visit North Korea?

Currently, the U.S. and North Korea have reached an impasse, especially after two American journalists were sentenced in North Korea. As the secretary of state, Hillary has urged and appealed to North Korea to release the two American journalists out of humanity. But North Korea showed its intent of pre-dialogue in a number of ways.

On the other hand, the Associated Press reports that the manager of Current TV, for which the two detained American journalists were working, was the assistant for the Clinton administration as well as for Vice President Al Gore.

Clinton is criticized because of this. Whether it is for his public or personal affairs, he is the best candidate to go negotiate.

Although the U.S. has never eased up on the issue during bilateral talk between North Korea and the U.S, it is estimated that the government will continue to emphasize Clinton’s role as a private citizen during his visit to Pyongyang and that arrangements for bringing back the journalists had nothing to do with the countries’ relationship or the North Korea nuclear problem. However, we have to admit that as former president, and husband of current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton’s “private” identity is extraordinarily special and it meets the expectation on the North Korean side.

It is his first ever visit to Pyongyang. During this period, when the media is reporting his appointment to visit North Korea, they emphasize his identity as a former president and husband of the secretary of state, as well as his link to North Korea.

When Clinton took over the White House, the U.S. had serious conflicts with North Korea on the nuclear problem. Clinton opened up high-level dialogue between the governments. He made a lot of efforts to improve this relationship during the later period of his administration.

In October 2000, Jo Myong Rok, a special envoy of the highest leader Kim Jong Il and first vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission, visited the U.S. and met with President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright, Secretary of Defense Cohen and so on. The joint announcement published by both sides stated that they had decided to take steps to improve the relationship between the two countries, for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific Region.

At the end of 2000, Secretary of State Albright visited North Korea and talked with King Jong Il. It is said that Clinton intended to visit North Korea while he was still in office, to thoroughly change the situation between the U.S. and North Korea. Due to changes in international situations, he was not able to do so, leaving a huge regret and room for imagination among international relations researchers.

Analysts believe that the U.S. emphasis on releasing the journalists is indeed the solution to a humanitarian problem, and has nothing to do with the North Korea nuclear problem. But whether Clinton could visit North Korea or not is a part of the U.S. and North Korea diplomacy.

When it comes to a deadlock due to the issue of the launch of missiles and nuclear tests by North Korea during the Six-Party Talks, there is no doubt that Clinton’s surprising visit to North Korea has an important symbolic meaning and actual connotation related to the issue.