North Korea remains conspicuously silent about South's new unification doctrine

Pyongyang had remained mum on Seoul's new unification policy for five consecutive days as of Tuesday, a conspicuous silence that sharply contrasted with the regime's invective-fueled responses to the South's past North Korea-related initiatives.

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a congratulatory address during a ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of the end of Japan's colonial occupation of the peninsula at the Sejong Performing Arts Center in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Pyongyang had remained mum on President Yoon Suk Yeol's new unification policy for five consecutive days as of Tuesday, a conspicuous silence that sharply contrasted with the regime's invective-fueled responses to the South's past North Korea-related initiatives.

"This year’s Liberation Day address almost entirely focused on North Korea with the 'Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine,' yet North Korea has not reacted at all," a South Korean Unification Ministry official told reporters under the condition of anonymity on Tuesday. "This is a different situation compared to last year and the year before."

Yoon's new unification doctrine, introduced during a speech marking Liberation Day celebrating the end of Japan’s 35-year colonial occupation of Korea in 1945, outlines a vision for achieving a "freedom-based unified Republic of Korea" as the future of the Korean Peninsula. The core of the doctrine is the extension of freedom, inspiring North Koreans from the inside to want unification — contrasting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's declaration of "two states hostile to each other."

This silence is notable, given that Pyongyang has reacted angrily in the past.

After Yoon announced the "Audacious Initiative" — a denuclearization roadmap — during his 2022 Liberation Day address, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, responded within three days, dismissing the initiative as "the height of foolishness" and adding the North would never sit face-to-face with the Yoon administration to discuss its denuclearization.

Analysts suggest that North Korea’s continued silence regarding the unification doctrine could be a deliberate strategy to ignore the South, or it might be influenced by the regime’s current domestic and international challenges.

One immediate concern for the North Korean leader is recovery efforts from significant flood damage in northern border regions, including North Pyongan and Jagang provinces, following heavy rains at the end of July. The restoration efforts are critical, as they directly impact food supplies — a vital issue for the regime.

North Korea has reportedly established large-scale tent camps for flood victims in Uiju County, North Pyongan, according to a report by Voice of America (VOA) on Tuesday. These camps, covering an area of 17,000 square meters, the equivalent of three international soccer fields, are even visible from space, indicating the severity of the situation and the lengthy recovery process required as they remain nearly three weeks after the flooding.

The flooding "could be one factor" influencing North Korea's silence, "while there may be various other factors to consider," the South Korean Unification Ministry official suggested.

Some experts believe North Korea may also be hesitant to issue any external messages due to the complexities of its relationships with Russia and China. While the regime has recently strengthened ties with Russia — signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea in June, which includes mutual military aid in the event of an attack — relations with China have been more strained.

Despite 2024 marking the "Friendship Year" to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, there have been no significant political events to commemorate the milestone.

Additionally, North Korea’s trade with China, which accounts for over 90 percent of its external trade, fell for three consecutive months, customs data showed Monday.

Trade between North Korea and China in July totaled $144.75 million, an 18.8 percent decrease from June’s $178.45 million, according to China’s General Administration of Customs data. The trade recorded $193.99 million in April and has since declined.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]