@andreilankov This may be the elephant in the room. Answer this one question: Is there room for Juche Socialism in the context of Korean reconciliation? It’s worth repeating:

IS THERE ROOM FOR JUCHE SOCIALISM IN KOREAN RECONCILIATION?

@nknewsorg @andreilankov 2/“Definition of reconcile
transitive verb
1a : to restore to friendship or harmony
reconciled the factions
b : SETTLE, RESOLVE
reconcile differences“

It’s absolutely crystal clear to me:

1) A war was fought. No one won. Two Korean sovereign countries remain.

2) Where there’s
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 3/a will there’s a way. So if North and South Koreans want to reconcile - “to restore to friendship or harmony” or “SETTLE, RESOLVE” their differences - then it’s easily done. When Moon visited Pyongyang and spoke at May Day stadium his historic speech was warmly received by all.
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 4/https://t.co/EGsFqc4brv
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 5/Moon's speech given on Sept 20, 2018 continued the historic momentum of rapprochement that started with the Panmunjom Declaration in April 2018 followed by the historic Trump-Kim summit in Singapore in June 2018. After watching North Korea's positive reaction to Moon's speech👆
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 6/it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the people and leadership of the DPRK want peace and an end to war MORE BADLY than their counterparts in the South. You see it in the expression of Kim Jong-un's and Ri Sol-ju's faces when Moon speaks. You can read their minds:
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 7/Moon @ 7:18: “Pyongyang citizens, my fellow Koreans. During this visit I have been able to see the development of North Korea, the achievement of North Korea’s development, and I have been able to see for myself and feel very deeply about the kind of future that the North
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 8/"Korean want to have. And I had an opportunity to see the desperation and to feel the urge of North Korean people to build their future, build their good future. And I’ve seen their courage. I’ve seen their determination…”

Kim and Ri are thinking: "If only this will happen.."
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 9/And look where we are now. No concrete results have happened re Korean reconciliation, largely in part b/c of the US "hostile" policy of demanding the DPRK's complete denuclearization and Moon always going back to sitting on the fence, unable to deliver on his Sunshine Policy.
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 10/Which leaves the DPRK no choice but to do what the USA or any country would do: Press on forward defending the national interest. W/ future diplomatic relations w/ the US uncertain they have to secure their nuclear deterrence force to face any contingency.
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 11/Back to the original question on Korean reconciliation. I'm convinced North Korea is willing to "reconcile" with South Korea at any time, w/ a caveat: They won't sacrifice their Juche socialism or their sovereignty to do so. I find their rational more sound than the US & ROK's
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 12/which is: "Come on North Korea, your socialism sucks, no one's happy. Just surrender your nukes and borders and you can be 2nd-class citizens of One Capitalist South Korea." Prediction: Reconciliation will not happen until the US & ROK give the respect sovereign DPRK deserves.
@nknewsorg @andreilankov 13/Politicians and policy makers are caught up in the
surface of things. Like corral reefs which determine the shape of waves breaking overhead, which no one sees except for surfers who ride the waves, ideological realities are what largely determine the trajectory of diplomacy.
@nknewsorg @andreilankov There's an easy fix to the "oil & vinegar" conundrum of there being 2 sovereign Korean states, one socialist and one capitalist democracy. Don't erase borders or delete ideologies, but join both states into a Korea Commonwealth a la the UK. RECONCILIATION.
https://t.co/Tsv8wQEC7f
@nknewsorg @andreilankov https://t.co/kLoQjJ92Xe
@nknewsorg @andreilankov @threadreaderapp compile

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