Don’t forget the pain of the separated families

The issue of the separated families is not something to handle based on ideological, factional or political logic. It is a desperate issue to resolve on a humanitarian level based on the universal value of human rights.

Lee HoonThe author is the head of the Committee for Five Northern Korean Provinces. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice. Seventy years have passed, but the war on the Korean Peninsula is not over yet. Rather, the Kim Jong-un regime is openly making nuclear and missile threats and escalating tension on the peninsula with military provocations to maintain its feudal hereditary rule.

It is regrettable that the displaced people cannot visit their hometowns in North Korea even while missing their families and friends. As of the end of August, 74 percent of the applicants for family reunion — or 93,058 out of over 130,000 — have passed away. Fast aging of the separated families is a serious issue because 85 percent of the survivors are in their 80s or older.

Despite the urgent need to address the tragedy of separated families, the issue regrettably is not discussed as a result of the North’s uninterrupted nuclear tests and missile launches. The issue of the separated families is not something to handle based on ideological, factional or political logic. It is a desperate issue to resolve on a humanitarian level based on the universal value of human rights. Before it is too late, the government must aggressively seek solutions to the problem by cooperating with the international community, including the United Nations.

Past administrations tried to resolve the nuclear issue and attain peace through dialogue and pressure, but little progress was made. The situation has only worsened with time. Of course, deterring North Korea’s nuclear capabilities through strong sanctions is necessary to solve the nuclear conundrum. But deterrence is not a sufficient condition for denuclearization.

South Korean residents who came down from the five North Korean provinces demand an end to the nuclear negotiation approach that excludes human rights. The government must first recognize that denuclearization and peace on the peninsula are connected to universal human values like human rights, freedom and democratic spirit, and then pursue its North Korea policy in a wise way.

That is perfectly in line with the consistent North Korea policy the government has pursued toward the goal of achieving a peaceful reunification based on liberal democracy. Here, the two keywords are “bold initiative” and “North Korean human rights.” Unlike the previous administrations, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration insists that it will not rely on the good will of the North only. The government is poised to sternly deal with North Korea’s illegitimate and unfair actions without any compromise by exponentially strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance.

At the Korea-U.S. summit in April, President Yoon dramatically strengthened the extended deterrence on the North’s nuclear capabilities through the “Washington Declaration.” The president also sent a message to the international community that he will secure overwhelming response capabilities to any threats from the North through the trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. If we persistently try to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue based on principles and common sense, Pyongyang will eventually have no other choice but to turn to the negotiating table.

The ultimate solution to the nuclear puzzle is to induce North Koreans to become aware of the noble values of human rights and democracy so that changes can take place within the North. Our government must cooperate with the international community to provide substantial assistance to North Korea so that its people can determine what is right or wrong — and what is good or bad — and create a society where they can enjoy more freedom, democracy, human rights and welfare.

When the eyes and ears of North Koreans are opened — and when human rights are improved to move toward democratization — the door to a peaceful reunification will open. The 41st sports competition among the people from the five northern Korean provinces will be staged at Hyochang Stadium in Seoul on October 22. The event is a festival of unity and communication to comfort the pain of separation that 8.8 million residents from the five provinces in North Korea are suffering. At the same time, it is a place to inherit and continue the distinguished spirit of the first generation who left their hometowns to protect freedom and democracy.

The first generation of senior citizens from the five northern provinces are the main players who created the Miracle on the Han River with firm determination and sincerity when the country was ruined by the Korean War. We must remember that thanks to the sacrifice and dedication of the first generation, South Korea could grow into a donor country after receiving international aid for a long time. Some 8.8 million residents from the northern provinces will continue to work together to realize a peaceful unification based on the conviction that liberal democracy will surely prevail.

Translation by the Korea JoongAng Daily staff.