Kim Jong-il's train

Time for Koreas to swallow old grudges

It is not common for a head of state to visit another country three times a year. Yet that???s what North Korea???s Kim Jong-il is doing in China. So much so his tour is no longer attracting the attention of Western media. South Korean intelligence officers even thought it would be Kim???s son and heir-apparent, Jong-un, and had to correct their reports later.
The purpose of the latest visit as well as its outcome is still in shrouded in mystery. One can just presume from Kim???s itinerary that it has much to do with joint economic projects along the Sino-Korean borders. And this begs the question: Are Kim and the North Korean leadership finally ready for reform and openness?
Backing up this assumption is Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who told President Lee Myung-bak that Beijing hoped the North Korean leadership would learn from China???s economic growth. But Kim had already seen enough of China???s economic development, which he described as a ``cataclysmic change.???
The North Korean leader himself might not have needed any more expeditions to make a decision. It might be different for Kim???s aides and working-group officials, as seen by the huge entourage aboard the 26 rail carriages. Anyway, we hope it was the start of Kim???s long journey toward economic reform, not just another begging tour for food.
At issue for Kim and the North Korean leadership, assuming they are willing to conduct some experiments, would be how to handle the chaotic transition, especially without completely shaking up the establishment. As everybody knows, the best way is to abandon its nuclear development programs in return for the guarantee of the security of the system.
Kim Jong-il for his part might have reasons to distrust the promises made by the U.S. and South Korea to this effect. But the alternative is perennial concerns about starvation, continued the possibility of social turmoil and eternal subordination to China. It???s time to make a decision toward a soft landing if for no other reason than the regime???s sustainability.
The North Korean leader demonstrated his health by making a nearly non-stop train journey of 5,000 kilometers. But Kim must know he has not much time to move toward reform or at least lay a foundation for his successor to start it. Leaving his throne to his 27-year-old son without such groundwork is like throwing him and the entire country into a dead end.
Kim Jong-il must swallow his pride and accept South Korean conditions for renewing inter-Korean talks. He might be feeling bitter toward his South Korean counterpart, but at stake is the survival of his country and 25 million people. No amount of nuclear bombs can guarantee its prosperity, not even security.
It???s also about time President Lee modifies his stance. ``We must prepare for reunification as if it were to happen tomorrow,??? Lee said Wednesday. ``Chairman Kim can learn much and change his country by visiting China.??? These remarks reveal Lee???s limitations. If Kim reforms the North, reunification would neither come easily nor in the ways Lee hopes. Seoul must make sure Kim???s train is bound for the south not northwest.
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