korean unification studies

Today, when one learns of secret contacts between North and South Korea the idea of illicit money springs to mind. How much money was promised to North Korea? Was the summit bought with tax payer’s money? But secret contacts have been part and parcel of North-South relations since day one.

The July 4 South-North Joint Communiqué 1972 was a key turning point in relations between the North and South. Effectively, it ended much of the open hostility that had pervaded the relationship, removed a lot of the fear, and set in place a course that would ultimately lead to today’s relationship. But it all started in the utmost secrecy…

Contact to prepare for the July 4 South-North Joint Communiqué began with working level secret talks proposed by the the ROK National Red Cross (ROKNRC) delegation at the 9th Red Cross preliminary meeting held at Panmunjom. The aim was to prepare a channel for political dialogue. A total of 11 rounds of secret contacts beginning in November 1971, were held between Chong Hong-Jin, ostensibly a member of the ROKNRC, and Kim Dok-Hyon, ostensibly a member of the North Korea Red Cross (NKRC). They carried letters confirming their credentials signed by Lee Hu-Rak, Director of the KCIA, and Kim Yong-Joo, Director of the North Korean Workers Party Organization and Guidance Department, respectively.

As a result of these meetings, Chong Hon-Jin made a secret visit to Pyongyang 28-31 March 1972 and Kim Dok-Hyon made a secret visit to Seoul 19-21 April 1972, in order to prepare for a similar visit of their Directors.

On 2 May 1972, Lee Hu-Rak (pictured, left) and three aides departed on a trip to Pyongyang via Panmunjom. The visit lasted four days, during which Lee met Kim Il-Sung and Kim Yong-Joo (younger brother of Kim Il-Sung and then effectively second in command of North Korea). The return visit of Kim Yong Joo did not occur - according to North Korean sources, because of a bout of illness. Instead, a substitute visited Seoul, one Park Sung-Chul (pictured, right). Interestingly, from this time onwards, Kim Yong-Joo did not show up at any South-North talks. During Park Sung-Chul’s stay in Seoul he visited President Park Chung-Hee and continued dialogue with Lee Hu-Rak. 

The results of these secret talks was the 4 July South-North Joint Communiqué and the opening of a hot-line, as stated in the official Agreement on Installation and Operation of South-North Direct Telephone Line.

But South Korea has changed significantly since these times. Does anybody really trust the government to undertake secret contacts anymore? How can secret contacts be made more accountable to the public? Should the National Assembly have a greater oversight of such activities?