Kim Jong-un may visit Seoul this year after receiving tangerines

Nov 13, 2018, 09:19 am

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South Korea’s Air Force cargo planes C-130 carrying boxes of tangerines, is seen before its take off for North Korea at the Jeju International Airport on Jeju Island on November 11./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Heo Go-woon

The South Korean government has sent tangerines from Jeju Island to North Korea, raising hopes for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s historic visit to Seoul within the year. The delivery is another sign that President Moon Jae-in is willing to continue his role of mediator by improving ties with North Korea amid growing signs of further stalling in Washington-Pyongyang negotiations on denuclearization.

Cheong Wa Dae transported 200 tons of tangerines to Pyongyang in four shipments over Sunday and Monday from the southern island of Jeju via South Korean military planes. Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and Suh Ho, presidential secretary for unification policy, were on the first flight to travel to Pyongyang. President Moon Jae-in ordered to send the tangerine gift in return for the 2 tons of mushrooms Seoul received after the inter-Korean summit in September.

The fruit can be seen as an attempt by the government to create a conciliatory atmosphere to encourage Kim Jong-un’s Seoul visit within the year. Being one of Jeju’s most famous products, the gamgyul or tangerine can be a gift with special significance to Kim. Kim’s maternal grandfather Ko Kyung-taek is known to be from Jeju. Besides, Moon had told Kim he would take him to Mount Halla. Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong recently checked helicopter landing facilities near Mount Halla in preparation for Kim’s possible visit to the island.

“Regardless of Washington-Pyongyang talks, the government is considering to invite Chairman within the year to change the atmosphere so that Washington-Pyongyang negotiations can be held in working level,” a source familiar with inter-Korean relations said on Monday. “Showing its good relations with the South could push the United States.”

The source predicted that if Kim decides to visit South Korea, it would most likely to take place in mid-December. Kim’s visit in November is unlikely as Moon will visit Singapore on Nov. 13-16 for annual regional summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and then visit Papua New Guinea on Nov. 17-18 for a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

On the other hand, some say the tangerine gift in connection with Kim’s Seoul visit is rather a broad interpretation. “They are just exchanging presents. Kim’s visit should be seen as another matter,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. “Seeing every issue politically will not help to develop inter-Korean relations.”

Prof. Yang predicted Kim’s Seoul visit would be determined by the North Korea-U.S. negotiations as it is beyond the issue of inter-Korean relations. “If a high-level meeting between the U.S. and North Korea takes place within November, Kim’s Seoul visit within the year is more likely to follow. But if Washington-Pyongyang talks takes place afterwards, Kim’s Seoul visit is unlikely within the year,” he said.

#Kim Jong-un #Seoul visit #Pyongyang #North Korea #tangerines