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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Yonhap |
By Oh Young-jin
 |
The North has drawn attention with its Christmas threat. Every move it made was under scrutiny in an effort to know whether it might hurl a long-range missile or conduct a nuclear test. It is obvious that the North is trying to rekindle U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in talks with the North's leader Kim Jong-un. While seeking to get re-elected, Trump is being distracted by an impeachment bid against him.
When the deadline passed with no gift delivered, the world wondered whether it would arrive belatedly. We know from experience that the unpredictable North is predictable occasionally ― as it often acts when pressed into a corner. Now is such an occasion.
The Christmas gift brouhaha started with a North Korean foreign ministry statement Dec. 3, saying: "What is left to be done now is the U.S. option and it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get."
Being in December, the Christmas gift in the statement caught on. An official from the Unification Ministry was quoted as saying: "We are not afraid what the North may give us as its Christmas gift."
In a Tuesday interview with The Korea Times at the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Harry Harris repeated Trump's statement that the U.S. was prepared for whatever Christmas gift came from the North.
However, gaining attention may be the first part of the game the North is playing. The next part is more challenging as it involves extracting concessions through which the North can build its case as a nuclear state and come out of isolation.
If the North test fires an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), it will still belong to the attention-grabbing first stage. This carries the risk of a backlash ― tougher sanctions, if not a U.S. military strike.
Now, the chance is that Trump feels tempted to become an Obama, being satisfied with maintaining the status quo. From Trump's perspective, there may be no more drama to squeeze from his North Korean saga after he stood with Kim on the demarcation line separating the two Koreas to become the first incumbent U.S. president to do so since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
In that sense, Kim has been played by Trump rather than the other way around. Trump being Trump, Kim may likely find himself reduced to the role of a jilted lover waiting in vain for the partner who won't return.
For the North, the painful truth is that being good at mind games may not be good enough to win the bigger game. History reminds of this repeatedly. The problem is that the North has no other good options to save it from this predicament and is destined to keep playing the same game over and over. We all know by now what hand the North is likely to play, although there is always a chance for an unexpected development.
Meanwhile, here is a tip for the North Korean leader before next Christmas.
As an atheist country that would not allow Christ's birthday to compete with those of the Kim dynasty's key members, the North has surely poisoned the occasion of peace and happiness.
The North may have a bigger plot. Going back to the North's statement, one may come to think that Kim wants to play Santa Claus, the bringer of gifts.
Then, part of the statement, "… it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift" … reminds one of "Santa Claus is coming to town," the Christmas song that goes: "He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake …" It is as if the Swiss-educated Kim were Santa, judging whether the U.S. behaves and deserves a gift.
However, if he wants to act like Santa, Kim should fit the role better ― wearing the costume and bringing gifts ― and say, "Ho, ho, ho." But no ICBMs or nuclear bombs are allowed.
Oh Young-jin (foolsdie@gmail.com, foolsdie5@koreatimes.co.kr) is director of content for The Korea Times.
