[Editorial] Concerted message

During her summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in early May, President Park Geun-hye is expected to try to ensure Seoul and Washington will keep taking joint steps in countering threats from Pyongyang and moving toward a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Beyond the two leaders’ first talks, it will be a crucial task for Park and her aides to brace for the possibility that the U.S. and China will look for a formula between themselves for defusing the crisis on the peninsula and Washington may seek direct negotiations with Pyongyang.

Pyongyang this week rebuffed overtures of dialogue from Seoul and Washington, which came during U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s whirlwind visit over the weekend to South Korea, China and Japan. On Wednesday, it also rejected a request by South Korean businessmen to visit a joint industrial park, whose operation was suspended by North Korea early this month.

Pyongyang’s latest statements, though still full of harsh and bellicose rhetoric, are not viewed by some observers here as dashing hopes of resuming talks. North Korea, which has refrained from firing mid-range missiles despite its preparatory moves, may consider coming to the negotiating table possibly next month under as favorable conditions as possible, they note.

In preparation for the coming situations ― whether good or bad ― Park’s administration needs to strengthen coordination on how to handle the precarious regime in Pyongyang. The presidential office and the Unification Ministry recently appeared out of step in making an offer of dialogue and handling the negative reactions from North Korea. This confusion should not be repeated if Park’s government is to deal with the North in a consistent and resolute manner on the back of cooperation and support from the opposition party and the public.

In a meeting with her top aides Monday, Park emphasized the need to send a “concerted message” regarding inter-Korean matters. The president herself, however, seems partly responsible for the discord in recent days.

Park needs to pay heed to criticism that security-related agencies lack efficient communication and rely too much on her instructions. It is advised that they will hold consultations more frequently and actively to share information and coordinate stances.