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What did North Korean leader Kim Jong-il gain from the New York Philharmonic's concert in Pyongyang? Why didn't he attend the performance as expected? Pundits said that the orchestra's performance was a "half success" for Kim.
Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University, said, "The performance gave us the impression that North Korea is a 'normal country' where cultural activities are possible." Kim Keun-sik, a professor of North Korean Studies at Kyungnam University, said, "Attracting worldwide attention, the orchestra conveyed a message calling for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and North Korea."
North Korea is regarded as skillful in propaganda-based external strategies. When U.S. President George W. Bush branded North Korea part of a global "axis of evil" in 2001, North Korea responded with persistent propaganda suggesting that it had no choice but to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from the U.S. threat of annihilation.
At the time, North Korea tried to give the impression that "the U.S. is also partly responsible for the North's development of nuclear weapons," said Kim Sung-han. This strategy worked well in persuading some countries. "This time as well the North gave the impression that the nuclear issue could be resolved if the U.S. were to make some concessions," Kim said.
The performance may have also given North Korea a chance to consolidate its internal system. Ryu Dong-ryeol, a researcher at the Police Science Institute, said, "North Korea will most likely advertise that thanks to Kim Jong-il's kindness, the leading orchestra from the 'imperialist country' performed music, including 'Arirang,' and paid respects to Kim in Pyongyang."
The performance probably aided, at least partially, in tamping down North Korean people's discontent with economic difficulties and food shortages by boosting their cultural pride, Ryu added.
But Kim Jong-il missed a golden opportunity by failing to attend the concert. The idea for the concert took shape around October last year when the schedule was arranged for North Korea's disablement of its nuclear facilities and the declaration of its nuclear programs and stockpiles, and when U.S.-North Korean relations were improving.
Though it was a cultural event on the surface, the concert was a highly political performance for which the U.S. Department of State complied with the requests of North Korean authorities.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University, said, "It was apparently too difficult for Kim Jong-il to attend the concert as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice didn't go to Pyongyang at a time when the North's declaration of its nuclear programs remains at a stalemate. As a result, Kim lost a rare opportunity to give the world the impression that he is a soft-hearted music lover."
Just as Cho Myong-rok, the first vice chairman of North Korea's National Defense Commission, visited Washington and then secretary of state Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang as a reciprocal gesture in October 2000, Kim Jong-il was apparently hoping to speed up progress in Washington-Pyongyang relations with the Philharmonic's concert. He seems to have failed.
Baek Seung-joo, the chief of the Defense Issues Task Force at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said, "North Korea, which is anxious for improved ties with the U.S., may have been disappointed with the lukewarm attitude of the U.S. government toward the New York Philharmonic's performance in Pyongyang."
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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