Strange Korea Happenings

Strange things are happening on the Korean peninsula. In the North, the return to an isolated, threatening stance by Pyongyang has abruptly terminated fitful cooperation to dismantle nuclear facilities. A second nuclear explosion, following the first three years ago, accompanied by long-range missile launches has definitely gotten global attention.
Dictator Kim Jong-il has made a rare public appearance at the Supreme People’s Assembly to designate his youngest son Kim Jong-un his successor. Much media commentary focused on the father’s aged appearance, striking evidence for reports he suffered a stroke last fall. The fact that he followed feudal practice in designating a son the next head of state is not surprising; his own father Kim Il-sung did the same.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the 38th Parallel which divides the two states, the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea has cast a shadow over politics. His family has been the focus of a financial investigation attended by very sanctimonious and strident partisan criticism from political opponents. Popular anger at alleged criminal behavior has been replaced with highly emotional public expressions of grief and sorrow.
In the midst of these disturbing developments, the role of another Korean leader continues to evolve favorably, with far fewer headlines – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations. Despite armed conflict and economic turmoil, the UN has not only maintained but strengthened the role of global coordination, oversight and law enforcement.
This Secretary-General represents a bridge between developed and developing worlds. The original institutional vision of the United Nations acknowledged power realities but also promoted inclusive representation. The Security Council still reflects the nations which led the Allied victory in World War II. The General Assembly remained inclusive even as the number of new nations ballooned during the 1960s.
The Republic of Korea was once part of the diverse Third World population of lower-income nations, but that status has changed very dramatically in a brief period of time. As recently as the early 1960s, Korea was among the poorest nations in the world.
In marked contrast, today South Korea ranks as the eleventh largest economy in the world and for more than two decades has practiced turbulent but successful democracy. Market economics as well as representative government now include a steadily increasing share of the world’s population. Secretary General Ban therefore bridges both developed and developing nations in an era when both dimensions appear to be merging.
In the midst of developments in Korea which are both grim and weird, a little noticed move in North Korea is nevertheless very significant. The regime which has publicly returned to rigidity has just quietly resumed negotiations with South Korea regarding the future of the special trade zone at Kaesong, just north of the 38th Parallel. This island of growing prosperity in the midst of the desperately impoverished North clearly is too important to sacrifice because of ideology.
Communism traditionally has included visions of social as well as economic utopia. The reality instead has confirmed the persistence of cruelty and greed as inevitable parts of the human condition. The promise of market economics, in the context of law and regulation, has been efficient and effective expansion of prosperity for people as a whole.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin and author of ‘After the Cold War’ (Korean ed. Oruem Publishing; Macmillan and NYU Press). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu