Hopes gleam amid scepticism over forthcoming US-DPRK summit

The commemoration of the 106th birth anniversary of the Great Leader Kim Il Sung, the founder and philosopher of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a momentous occasion. There are only few days left for the moment to come. The Kim Il Sung, the Eternal President of DPRK, was born on April 15, 1912 in a very modest house in the calm and serene small village called Mang Yong Dae, only 12 kilometers away from the capital city of Pyong Yong. Nobody could imagine at that moment that this new-born child would one day emancipate the Korean nation from Japanese colonialism and slavery. But his father knew it and he brought up his son in that style. He himself was a relentless fighter for the freedom of the fatherland.
Imbued with the teachings and principles of his illustrious father, Kim Il Sung engaged himself at an early stage of his life with the liberation struggle of the Korean nation. Not only that, he, along with his father and the entire family, chose a fugitive life in Manchuria to organise and strengthen the liberation movement. It is a long and glorious story.
Now another historic occasion has come, again, in the history of Korean peninsula for complete emancipation of the whole nation, the glorious proceedings of which are hopefully in the offing. The long-drawn vexatious Korean problem is likely to come to a conclusion now. The summit between US President Mr. Donald Tramp and the Supreme Leader of DPRK Marshal Kim Jong Un will soon take place. President Trump has accepted Kim's proposal to sit at the negotiating table, which will, according to available indications, take place before the end of May this year. The whole world is welcoming this 'noble gesture' shown by both the leaders. The head of the states of China, Russia, Germany and all European countries have expressed their support and solidarity with the move.
Only the other day the Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping accorded a rousing reception to Marshal Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju while they visited China. On the eve of the forthcoming summit, this visit bears a special importance. Obviously the Chinese support to the DPRK in respect of ensuring the success of the summit has amply been demonstrated in the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square where the two leaders spent long hours discussing matters of mutual interest.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, embraced the meeting saying "it is a step in the right direction", instead of "fire and fury". German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her satisfaction and high optimism about the Trump-Kim talks. She views "gleams of hope" for resolving the issue about the DPRK's nuclear weapons. She also remarked: "It would be marvellous if we could experience a detente." The governments of Switzerland, Sweden and many other European countries have offered their capitals to be used as a venue of the would-be summit talks.
An air of expectancy is prevailing all over the world. A gentle breeze of amity and friendship is blowing over the whole Korean peninsula, nay, over the eastern horizon of Asia and part of the Oceania. With one master-stroke of diplomacy Marshal Kim Il Sung has changed the political scenario of the whole region. Only a couple of months back, his decision to allow DPRK athletes to take part in the Pyeonchang Winter Olympics caused sensation in the world. The DPRK Olympic delegation was cordially received by Moon Jae In's South Korea. The warmth and honour, shown by South Korea to the DPRK delegation, headed by Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong and official ornamental Head of the State Kim Yong, were unprecedented.
Then again South Korean Pop Concert Music Team's visit to Pyong Yang has uplifted the same cause. Kim Jong Un, along with his sister, witnessed and appreciated the performance of South Korean team. In one word, the Korean Peninsula never before experienced a friendlier political situation than this.
The Korean issue, in fact, will be resolved now or never. Borrowing a few words from Charles Dickens, it would be worthwhile to note: it can be the best of time, it can be the worst of time, it can be the age of wisdom, it can be the age of foolishness, it can be the season of light, it can be the season of darkness, it can be the spring of hope. So, it can also be the winter of despair for the people of Korean Peninsula and the peace-loving people of the world at large.
Yet, it would perhaps be too naive to ignore the fact that suspicions and apprehensions do still remain about the possible outcomes of the forthcoming summit. Doubts do also exist over whether the summit would, at all, take place. But all concerned would be too happy if such apprehensions and scepticism are proved incorrect. Much depends here on the moves by the US. But the recent remarks by the White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders -- and those too certainly with full concurrence and approval of President Trump -- are disheartening. She said: 'In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain. The United States is demanding that DPRK must speak out categorically and unambiguously its decision to denuclearise Korea. It has to start the process of dismantling the nuclear warheads that it has developed over the years slowly and slowly, bit by bit, inch by inch.'
But how can a nation abandon its preparations for self-defence? It is the basic, fundamental, inherent and unalienable right of every human being to defend ownself. The history of human civilisation tells us that any unjust and unfair treaty can never bring lasting peace for mankind. Ultimately, it backfires. The rigorous and unjust clauses of the Treaty of Versailles erupted into the Second World War (WW2) in the long run. This treaty stripped Germany of a huge portion of its land territory. The province of Alsace-Lorrain, the most precious iron and coil mine areas of the then Europe, was taken away from Germany. The German armed forces were forced to reduce to a very negligible position. Ultimately, this harsh, unfair and unjust treaty backfired, becoming one of the causes of the WW2.
The most funny and hypocratic character of the US bellicosity has been revealed in Washington's recent decision about going for joint military exercises even this year, in the vulnerable and strategic places of the China Sea and the adjoining archipelago. This time 300,000 South Korean and 24,000 US soldiers will be taking part in this military exercise. If this act is considered right and permissible, on which moral ground can the DPRK be asked to go for an immediate denuclearisation?
The whole gamut of the US policy is nothing but a hoax and deception. Already some sections of the western press are clamouring that if Trump sits with Kim in a summit, then that will indirectly confirm US recognition of the DPRK as a nuclear power. Such pessimistic views about the much-talked-about summit may not sound pleasant to many. But the fact remains incontestable that the Koreans should depend more on their own strength and resources. Imbued by the teachings of Juche Idea, as enunciated by the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung that "Man is the creator of his own fate", the Koreans will need to organise their own people, particularly their younger generation. It is tempting to quote here a few words from the former US President John F. Kennedy: "No situation is untenable when the younger generation of a country so desires and when there is a strong determination like Stalingrad in their heart".
Exactly that kind of determination was found among the young members of the Korean Army when this writer visited Korea last year. The annual military parade ceremony of the Korean Army at the Kim Il Sung Square on the bank of the river Tae Dong appeared to the visitors as a testimony to the strong determination and oneness of the Korean nation. No power on earth can defeat and destroy Korea, as long as this spirit is kept alive.

This is an edited version of a presentation, Mostafa Jamal Haider made at a recent function, organised in Dhaka by Bangladesh Institute of Jhuche Idea and Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Society and Solidarity Committee. [email protected]