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Gesture across the DMZ

It would have been more wise and prudent of the world leaders to have invited Pyongyang and its young leadership as observer — helping regional and international allies gather a proper perspective of real politicks at work. No amount of brainstorming would be complete without accommodating what North Korea, and for that matter what Iran has to say, when it comes to chalking out a plan of action on issues of militarism and security.

Eulogising the Western security doctrines and reinforcing them to retain the status quo is no big deal. What really makes it a challenging and statesmanship job is to mould the established perceptions on a new path wherein the grievances of the adversary are also taken on board. This is where the summit in Seoul has to rise to send down the message that peace and security are no more perceptional issues, and the world leaders can walk the extra mile to make it consensual in approach. A message of accommodation and understanding is the need of the hour and that would certainly help the pro-peace constituencies in Teheran, Pyongyang and elsewhere to rise to the occasion and reciprocate the sentiment in an earnest manner.

US President Barack Obama, who inspected the Demilitarised Zone separating the two Koreas, is quite right as he described it as a ‘Freedom frontier’ to his troops stationed there. But he could do well by rewriting history in the form of vacating the world’s most heavily-guarded border areas, and allowing both Seoul and Pyongyang to realise their cherished dream of unification. It is the presence of foreign troops and the interventionist policies of extra-territorial forces, namely the United States, China and Russia that have hampered real liaisoning of thoughts.

Beijing for quite some time has done a commendable job by distancing itself from kneejerk reactions that Pyongyang exhibits, despite being its mentor and most-trusted confidante. This has enabled North Korea to see the light of the day in its true factualness and execute its policies in a responsible manner. The recent deal with Washington in which Pyongyang agreed for nuclear inspections couldn’t have come had Russia and China not made it clear to North Korea that prolonged defiance is not the way to go. Obama in Seoul needs to reiterate the gesture of peace and reconciliation for North Korea — an aspect that the Kim dynasty has been longing to hear from the West. Its time to defuse tension.