Constant missile tests and heated rhetoric. North Korea’s behavior remains aggressive. In a DW interview, former Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Colin explained the background of the increasing escalation.
Deutsche Welle: Mr Colin. You have managed from 2012 to 2016 of Brazil’s diplomatic representation in North Korea and know the country well. What is the strategy behind the aggressive attitude of the North Korean government?
Roberto Colin: There’s a reason for the aggressive attitude, namely the still unresolved question of the Korean war is not officially ended. There is only a ceasefire between North Korea, China and the United States – without a peace Treaty. Pyongyang is now trying with the missile tests and aggressive rhetoric, to be used as a nuclear Power is recognized, especially by the United States.
The current tense Situation is a result but not only from the behaviour of North Korea, but also from the mutual actions of the different actors in the Region. The United States, China, and North and South Korea. North Korea wants to bring the USA to sit down to a table. Ultimately, North Korea wants a peace Treaty, which would also mean the end of sanctions. North Korea wants to change the Status Quo and wants to force the United States, with its current aggressive rhetoric to the negotiating table.
Since 1964, the Korean Peninsula is in a Situation that is neither war nor peace. Some experts believe that it for a long time, in the interest of the United States to receive this Situation as upright. Others, such as China, assume that the 30,000 US soldiers are to hold in South Korea, especially the Chinese in chess and not the North Koreans.
You can not say, therefore, that North Korea’s accusations against the West are just pure Paranoia of the regime?
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un at a military parade to 85. Birthday of the “Korean people’s army” (KPA)
North Korea has no leadership acting suicidal. The leadership is very rational. The program, the rhetoric, everything is calculated very carefully. Internally, this strategy has the goal that the people of North Korea his country as a powerful, feared and important country.
And of course there are all of the even yet another motive. For years, the US and South Korea have held joint military exercises. North Korea fears that it could be Exercises for an Invasion. For North Korea, the missiles are answers tests the own way to and a proof of their own Power. However, the tense Situation fueled by many pages.
How do you rate the current approach of Donald trump in the face of North Korea?
Trumps approach opens up new possibilities. He has said in his campaign, clearly, that he wants to solve the North Korea problem that has been around for 64 years. In the past six decades, there has been a lot of missed opportunities. Trump is already gone from one Extreme to the other Extreme, he has threatened a possible military Operation is indicated. At the same time he said that he would be a great honor, with Kim Jong-Un. With Trump and the new social-liberal President Moon Jae-in in South Korea, the possibility that both align and there is a new way for a solution. Trump is very pragmatic.
What is the population of North Korea to the ongoing conflicts in the country?
With the expanded opportunities to learn about the Internet and, thanks to USB Sticks, many North Koreans consume shows and movies from South Korea. Many have an idea of how life is out there. But when it comes to concrete facts, do not know the population, what is going on outside of the country.
There is no radio transmitter, how could you receive in Eastern Europe in the 80s. In North Korea, the Radios and television are not able to receive equipment once the signals from abroad. The information get to the people, are completely controlled by the Propaganda and the official line of the regime. But I think that the modern media are breaking the information monopoly of the regime. Somehow, the information always manage to find a way.
Air intake from the atomic test site Punggye-ri in North Korea
Against North Korea were imposed numerous sanctions. How will these affect the country?
The sanctions hit, not the political elites, but those who should not suffer from them, so the population in their everyday life. Even the work of international organisations such as the UN and other NGOs is affected. And even diplomats are forced to cash in the country to introduce, to be able in order to survive. North Korea is completely cut off from the international financial system. To create the power of the local population, of course. However, for the Functioning of the regime, this is not so fundamental.
How do you see the future of North Korea? They believe that Pyongyang’s behavior at some point peacefully, and for the policy-foreseeable act?
This is already possible. Up to the year 1905, Korea was completely isolated from the world, it had a medieval society, you described the country as the hermit Kingdom. Many things happening today in North Korea, there are no original ideas of the regime. Pyongyang has returned to the time before 1905. Then North Korea a protectorate of Japan and had to live 40 years under the brutal occupation of the Japanese.
This country has never experienced democracy or freedom. But the situation can change, but you need only look at Germany or Japan. Even South Korea has learned democracy.
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South Korea’s new home for young North Koreans
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South Korea’s new home for young North Koreans
What changes have you observed during your time in North Korea?
I have received a little insight into the country. I say small because there are strong restrictions. This starts with the contact with the population, which is possible but always very shallow. I was allowed to invite any North Koreans to come to my home. Nevertheless, I have noticed in the four years, a number of external changes that could mean.
I went, for example, only certain foreigners reserved days in my sports club. On the other days, the North Koreans were allowed to train. From one day to the other this rule has been abolished, and foreigners like the North Koreans were at the same time to the swimming pool of the club. It was even normal that you held to each other. The people in North Korea are very polite and hospitable. These are things that can appear to the outsider, perhaps, banal. The current Regime is not immutable. It changes something in the country, slowly, however, something changes.
Roberto Colin was head of the Brazilian representation in North Korea from 2012 to 2016. At the end of the 80s the today, 64-Year-old in Bonn served and the changes after the fall of the Berlin wall with watch could.
The Interview was conducted by Jean-Philip Struck (adaptation Greta Hamann).