Abstract

Summitry in Pyongyang

When Kim Dae Jung ended his historic pilgrimage to Pyongyang, Korea, in mid-June by crossing back over the 38th parallel, it marked the first time that the leaders of South and North Korea had met in fifty-five years. The North Koreans have always loved to mount grand spectacles in their capital city, and they pulled out all the stops to welcome the enormous Southern delegation of 130 people: mass ensemble parades, round-the-clock television coverage, even guesthouse bathrooms for the Southern delegates fitted out with patented North Korean ginseng skin toners and camellia hair oil. In arguing for the necessity to govern the North separately under a regional autonomous government, Kim has often cited the practical need to respect the pride of the North Koreans--unlike any previous Southern leader. Indeed, North Korea has been on a virtual diplomatic offensive this year. It normalized relations with Italy in January, with Australia in May and is having ongoing normalization discussions with Japan and other countries.