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| President Moon Jae-in, left, and his national security adviser Chung Eui-yong arrive at a ceremony for new Korean ambassadors at Cheong Wa Dae, June 16. The Ministry of Unification announced that North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Gaeseong shortly before the ceremony began with them present at 3 p.m. Their participation as planned in the regular diplomatic event fueled criticisms that Cheong Wa Dae may not have been paying due attention to a possible national security emergency. |
By Do Je-hae
The sudden resignation of unification minister Kim Yeon-chul is raising speculation about who will take up the post amid rising tension between the two Koreas, culminating in the destruction on June 16 of the highly symbolic inter-Korean liaison office in Gaeseong.
But media attention is focused not on Kim's replacement, but on whether President Moon Jae-in will opt for a more fundamental shakeup of his national security and diplomatic team to salvage his failing peace process on the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, parties are increasingly demanding the replacement of national security adviser Chung Eui-yong, as well as a shakeup of the ministries in charge of foreign affairs and national defense.
After the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office, the question that has emerged most often during Cheong Wa Dae's press briefings has been regarding a possible reshuffle at the presidential national security office. Reporters have been hounding key presidential aides about whether the President was considering a replacement for Chung, but the presidential office has avoided going into specifics.
"As far as Chung's resignation is concerned, I have not heard anything about it," a senior presidential aide told reporters during a briefing last week. "Regarding personnel matters, we will make an announcement in due course after final decisions are made."
A career diplomat with a heavy background in international trade, Chung has faced criticism for lack of expertise since he was appointed as Moon's first national security adviser in May 2017.
Shortcomings in NK policy
Opposition parties are highlighting that it is more than time to hold the current security and diplomatic team accountable for the shortcomings in Moon's engagement-centered North Korea policy.
Moon's approach to North Korea has been criticized for a lack of visible progress in inter-Korean relations and crossing Washington's strict position on sanctions against North Korea, thereby hurting U.S.-South Korea relations as well.
In particular, there is a strong sense among the opposition parties that replacing the unification minister is not enough.
"We need a complete shakeup in the President's lineup for national security and diplomacy," Rep. Sim Sang-jung, chairwoman of the Justice Party said during a party meeting last week. "The reshuffle should not end with unification minister's resignation."
Even the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is calling for a reshuffle of Moon's security and diplomatic team.
"It is time to review whether the government is properly supporting Moon's determination for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," DPK floor leader Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon said at a party meeting on June 18.
Changing the mood
"Our collective efforts for progress in inter-Korean relations have not produced tangible results. In this sense, a reshuffle could be meaningful for changing the mood," said DPK Rep. Min Hong-chul, head of the Assembly's National Defense Committee.
Last week, North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong revealed that Pyongyang had rejected Seoul's offer to send Chung and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon for urgent negotiations.
Some point out that it will be inevitable to replace Chung this time given that Pyongyang has implied it no longer trusts Chung as a negotiating partner by refusing to receive him as a special envoy.
But there are also concerns that it will not be easy to find a replacement. Suh is being mentioned as a possible successor, but North Korea also refused to receive him as an envoy, raising doubts about his suitability as a negotiator with North Korea under the current circumstances.
Finding a replacement for the unification minister post is also adding to Cheong Wa Dae's woes. Multiple names with special ties to the Moon administration are being mentioned in the media. But regardless of a new minister's political capacity, commitment and expertise, doubts remain as to the role of the unification ministry as long as there are no significant changes in South Korea's limited influence over improving U.S.-North Korea relations.
Moon approved the resignation of the former unification minister on June 19, which is seen by many as a result for the collapse of inter-Korean relations following Pyongyang's termination of all communication channels with the South before demolishing the inter-Korean liaison office.
The office was set up in 2018 as a result of the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration signed by Moon and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un.
The need for a reshuffle in the President's national security and foreign policy team has been highlighted in the media for some time, particularly after Moon marked the third year of his office on May 10.
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| National security adviser Chung Eui-yong, second from right, listens to President Moon deliver a special national address to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration on May 10. Yonhap |
There was speculation that Moon could replace some long-serving ministers in his Cabinet, such as Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who has been with the administration since its inauguration in May 2017.
Past presidents have opted for a reshuffle of major posts to refresh that momentum for policy-making around the beginning of the third year of office. But Moon's appointment style is said to be more cautious.
