베트남 학계의 남,북한 연구 동향 및 쟁점: -베트남 전쟁 시기(1954~1975년)를 중심으로

도미엔 ( Mien T. Do ) 이화사학연구소 2015 梨花史學硏究 Vol.0 No.50

Following the end of the World War II, both Vietnam and Korean peninsula ware divided. Since the 1950s, South Korea (the Republic of Korea) and SouthVietnam (the Republic of Vietnam), North Korea (the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea) and North Vietnam (the Democratic Republic of Vietnam) started to establish official diplomatic relations. The Park Chung-Hee government from 1964 sent South Korean combating troops to Vietnam War battle fields and North Korea from this moment also started its assistance for Vietnam officially. This study examines and analyzes research trends in Vietnam so far on North and South Korea during the Vietnam War, which covers: ① South Korean participation in this war; ② North Korean assistance; and ? North-South Korean relationship. Firstly, the studies in Vietnam have formed discussion issues regarding the motivation of war participation, the fighting role on the battles and the results of sending South Korean troops to Vietnam. The views of Vietnamese academia are divided into "subjective" and "objective" motivations, that is to say South Korean government`s decision to dispatch troops to Vietnam was for national interest or followed the request by the US. The latter point of view is in fact in more accordance with the official standpoint of current Vietnamese government. It at last argues that the US was the one that took greater responsibility in sending South Korean combating troops to Vietnam. In reality, this point of view reflects the characteristics of the Vietnam War, at the same time reflects the current standpoint of Vietnam that the Vietnam War was indeed the "resistance war against the Americans." On the fighting role and the importance of South Korean troops, changes of perception are happening now among Vietnamese scholars. There exists research trend that recognize the importance of South Korean troops in the battle fields based on their special fighting and operating capacity. Yet while mentioning the combating process of South Korean troops, these researches could not overlook the main leading-commanding role of the US. Studies of the results of sending troops mainly focuses on analyzing the interests that South Korean government received by participating in the war, surrounding military-economic, South Korea-South Vietnamese relations, US-South Korean relations, and politico-social aspects. Most of the studies mention the negative consequences of South Korean participation in the Vietnam War, such as strained North-South Korean relations, the anti-war movement within Korean society and all over the world which South Korean government had to face. Among the consequences that mentioned, the worst can be said the civilian massacres done by South Korean army during the Vietnam War. This has been seen leaving painful marks for Vietnam and the darkest chapters in the history of Vietnam-Korean relations. Secondly, this study analyzes the issue of assistance from North Korea during the Vietnam War, starting from the moment of formation of the solidarity community spirit between North Korea and North Vietnam. Through the books published since the 1950s, we are able to see North Vietnam`s interest in the Korean War which left lessons and experiences for Vietnam, at the same time the characteristic of North Korea-North Vietnam relationship at the moment ? the Anti-American solidarity community spirit and Socialist solidarity community spirit. It was during the period of formation of the solidarity community spirit that North Korea paid attention to the Vietnam War and started to assist North Vietnam since the mid-1960s. In Vietnam in 2000 appeared researches on the assistance of North Korea and the dispatch of its air-force to North Vietnam. It can be argued that the announcement of North Korean assistance by Vietnamese government was thanks to the improvement of North Korea-North Vietnam relationship at the moment (follows Vietnam War`s end, the relationship between the two countries was worsen). In general, researches on the assistance by North Korea to Vietnam so far remain limited. Thus, the clarification of North Korea-China-North Vietnam relations with macro-level approach, as well as digging up material sources from the Vietnam side with micro-scope approach, is truly needed. Last but not least, to be brief, the research results in Vietnam on the North-South Korean relations during the Vietnam War affirm that the opposition and complexity of North-South Korean relations was stemmed from both inside and outside factors, especially the dependence on great powers. Among the outside factors that influenced the division of the Korean peninsula, current Vietnamese point of view sees the role of the US as crucial. In fact, with the perspective that the origin of the Vietnam War was due to US containment strategy in Asia, the division of Korean peninsula was seen in the same standpoint by Vietnamese scholars. Moreover, Vietnam - whose unification was achieved after a long resistance war - is insisting that the issue of division and unification of North-South Korea could only be achieved in a peaceful way.

김정은 정권 대남정책의 변화: 남한의 대북정책에 대한 반응성을 중심으로

김상기 서울대학교 한국정치연구소 2024 한국정치연구 Vol.33 No.3

How does the Kim Jong-un regime respond to South Korea’s North Korea policy? Through analyzing North Korea’s responses to South Korea’s North Korea policy during the Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk-yeol administration, this paper shows that South Korea’s North Korea policy significantly influences Kim Jong-un Regime’s South Korea Policy. North Korea’s conditional dialogue and cooperation approach during the Moon administration reflects North Korea’s dissatisfaction regarding the resumption of ROK-US joint military drill, ROK’s active military buildup, and the poor implementation of inter-Korean agreements. One year and 7 months after the inauguration of the Yoon administration, North Korea’s declaration regarding the relationship between two states hostile to each other was also a response to South Korea’s North Korea policy that includes the hostile policy to North Korea, the pursuit of de facto unification by absorption, and the strengthening of ROK-US deterrence. Consequently, it can be said that Kim Jong-un regime’s South Korea policy tends to change, responding to South Korea’s North Korea policy. A policy implication is that responding to the change of South Korea’s policy, North Korea’s position regarding the relations between two states hostile to each other can change and subsequently inter-Korean relationships can improve. In order to increase the possibility of the change and improvement, it is necessary to pursue a consistent policy for reconciliation, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence between the South and North Korea.

일본 외교에 있어서 한국의 위상

신각수(SHIN Gak soo)(申珏秀) 신아시아연구소(구 신아세아질서연구회) 2016 신아세아 Vol.23 No.1

한일관계는 최근 최장·최악의 위기를 겪었다. 위기 요인은 과거사를 넘어 지정학, 영토, 국민감정 등 4개 분야로 확산되었다. 이런 가운데 일본 외무성은 2015년 3월 홈페이지의 한국 관련 기술에서 기본적 가치를 공유한다는 표현을 삭제하였다. 이는 일본외교에서 한국의 위상 변화를 의미하는지에 관한 의문을 제기하게끔 하였다. 본고는 외교청서를 중심으로 한국 관련 기술을 분석함으로써 일본외교에 있어서 한국의 위상에 관해 살펴본다. 편의상 분석대상 기간인 약 60년을 i) 국교 단절기(1955년-1965년), ii) 정부 주도기(1965년-1988년), iii) 민간교류 발아기(1988년-1998년), iv) 민간교류 전성기(1999년-2011년), v) 복합위기(2012년-현재) 등 5개 시기별로 검토해 보았다. 전체적으로 5-6차례의 위기를 겪었지만 한국에 대한 인식은 안보적 중요성, 경협상대, 같은 미국 동맹국으로서의 의미, 문화영역으로의 협력확대, 공동가치 보유국 등으로 발전하여왔다. 다만 5기에 들어서는 한국 사법기관에 대한 불신, 한국의 중국 경사 인식, 혐한론의 확산 등으로 후퇴하였다. 일본의 대한 인식 결정요인은 내재적으로는 한일관계의 추이, 한일 양국의 국내변수, 일본의 한반도에 대한 이익, 그리고 외재적으로는 동북아 전략 환경의 변화가 있다. 종래 한일관계의 악화는 별다른 영향을 미치지 않았지만 최근 악화는 영향을 미쳤는데 구조적인지 여부는 향후 변화를 살펴보아야 한다. 양국의 국내변수로는 한국에서는 민주화, 반일감정, 대중인기주의 등이 영향을 미쳤고, 일본에서는 보수우경화로 인한 역사수정주의, 혐한론의 기승, 한국 경시 등이 부정적으로 작용하였다. 일본의 한반도 이익은 일본이 한국에 대한 경제적·안보적·외교적 이익이 거의 상수로 작용하며, 북한과의 관계정상화, 납치문제 해결 등도 영향을 미친다. 동북아 전략 환경의 변화는 중국의 부상으로 인한 세력전환이 크게 영향을 미치고 있다. 한일관계의 안정은 세력전환기의 동북아 평화안정뿐만 아니라 북한핵문제를 포함한 북한 문제의 해결 및 통일에 매우 중요하다. 이런 차원에서 우리는 일본 내 한국의 위상을 높이기 위해 할 수 있는 다양한 노력을 지속해야 한다. For the last three and half years, Seoul-Tokyo relations have undergone the longest and worst crisis since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1965. The fault line has crept into geopolitics, territorial disputes and national sentiment beyond history, the traditional cause of friction. In March 2015, Japan’s Foreign Ministry deleted from the description of South Korea on its home page the statement that the two countries share basic values. This raised the issue of whether there has been a change in South Korea’s profile in Japanese foreign policy. This article examines South Korea’s profile in Japanese foreign policy by analyzing the descriptions of South Korea in the diplomatic bluebook issued by Japan’s Foreign Ministry. The 60 years under analysis were divided into five periods: i) no diplomatic ties (1955-1965); ii) government-led cooperation (1965-1988); iii) embryonic stage of people-to-people exchanges (1988-1998); iv) fully developed exchanges and cooperation (1999-2011); and v) complex crisis (2012-present). On balance, the Japanese perception of South Korea has steadily advanced, reflecting the latter’s value as a bulwark against the security threat from the continent, an important economic partner, a US ally, and a democratic and capitalist partner despite five or six crises. However, that perception backtracked during the fifth period due to multiple reasons, such as mistrust of South Korea’s judicial system, misunderstanding Korea’s tilt toward China and the spread of anti-Korean sentiment. Three internal factors determine Japanese perceptions of South Korea: changes in South Korea-Japan relations; domestic elements in both countries; and Japan’s national interests on the Korean Peninsula. An external factor is the power shift in Northeast Asia triggered by the rise of China. In the past, worsening bilateral ties did not affect Japanese perceptions of South Korea. This no longer seems to be the case, although it remains to be seen whether this change is structural. Regarding domestic elements, democratization, anti-Japanese sentiment, populism in South Korea as well as historical revisionism, anti-Korean fervor, and Korea passing in Japan influenced Japanese perceptions of South Korea. Japan’s national interests regarding South Korea in terms of its security, economy and diplomacy have been constants, although it also considered its unfulfilled interests in North Korea. Stable Seoul-Tokyo relations are essential not only for the maintenance of peace and stability in Northeast Asia amid a power shift but resolution of the North Korea problem as well, including the North Korean nuclear issue and Korean reunification. In this regard, South Koreans should make diverse efforts to enhance Korea’s profile in Japanese foreign policy.

민주화이후 한국정부의 대북정책 성향 및 전략 비교

허태회(Huh, Tae-Hoi),윤황(Youn Hwang) 동아시아국제정치학회 2010 국제정치연구 Vol.13 No.2

The objective of the study is to analyze major factors having influenced the South Korean government’s policies towards North Korea since the start of the Kim Dai-jung government and find out some effective measures to ensure the institutionalization of the inter-Korean relations. The following are the findings of the analysis. Firstly, what has been the most critical influence on the advancement or change in terms of the relationship between the South and the North are external factors resulting from the changing relationship among great powers. It may also be viewed that their multilateral efforts like the six party talks have played an important role as a critical variable in such transitional relations between the two governments. Secondly, in terms of conflicting relations within the South Korean society, while such conflicts have rather fomented disunity, such conflicts have served as an internal factor in weakening the driving force of South Korea’s policies on the North. Thirdly, one of the most critical factors regarding this issue is the North Korean nuclear problem, which has remained a serious obstacle to institutionalizing the relationship between two Koreas. In particular, North Korea’s nuclear issues cannot be resolved by the South Korean government on its own, which puts the South Korean government to be stuck in the middle. Such difficulty has turned out to serve as a hindrance to the development of the relationship between South Korea and the U.S. Fourthly, given the characteristics of South Korea’s policies on North Korea and the power dynamics among great powers, much need for the South Korean government are the development of new negotiation framework so as to ensure its external policy autonomy and a common policy coordination apparatus enabling it to drive its policies on North Korea. South Korea’s future policies on North Korea must consider such various factors like international, geopolitical and ideological ones, in order to ensure the driving force of such policies. Based on this analysis of changes in the environment of its entire North Korean policies, South Korea’s policies on North Korea should be decided more meticulously and strategically by considering the geopolitical conditions of the Korean peninsula, the power dynamics among great powers and the internal conditions of the two Korean societies.

북한 김정일정권의 대남·통일정책 변화:[로동신문] 분석을 중심으로

전미영 통일연구원 2006 統一 政策 硏究 Vol.15 No.1

Kim Jong-il Administration's South Korea Policy :Analysis of Rodong Sinmun The purpose of this paper is to analyze the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's South Korea Policy focused on the analysis of North Korean Newspaper, 'Rodong Sinmun'. The content analysis of 'Rodong Sinmun' is based on analysis of editorial article and slogan.The results of analysis are as follows. First of all, North Korea's perception of South has changed and North Korean traditional policy, 'Strategy of South Korea Revolution', was virtually abolished. The main factors which changed the policy are international environment, domestic economic deadlock and the rise in international competitiveness of South Korea. As the situation turned out unfavorable for North Korea, South Korea policy of North Korea pursued the practical purpose. If North Korean aim of the policy toward the South is to seek the maximum profit, it seems a realistic choice to make North Korea to make more profit by improving the inter-Korean relation than arousing conflicts and hostility. Consequently, it is true that the inter-Korean relation has many unstable factors. On the other hand, it is undeniable that Kim Jong-il Administration wants to improve it. This means that they have taken to the stage not to go against the reconciliation and the cooperation with South Korea for the economic recovery and the regime maintenance.

북한의 대남 주도권 확보와 대남전략 행태

이윤식 통일연구원 2013 統一 政策 硏究 Vol.22 No.1

The purpose of this paper is to analyze strategies of North Korea to South Korea, and its determinants under Lee Myung-bak’s government. The hypotheses of this paper are as follows: (1) Strategies of North Korea to South Korea have certain pattern which can be classified as strategy of confrontation, dialogue, double-faced and wait-and-see. (2) If an objective of North Korea to South Korea -“Communization unification in the Korean Peninsula”- remains unchanged, the Strategies of North Korea to South Korea remain unchanged. (3) The determinants of strategies of North Korea to South Korea are to secure initiative toward South Korea, and there are strong and moderate methods. In order to verify the hypotheses, this paper breaks the strategies of North Korea toward South Korea into four patterns, and applies these to Lee’s government. As a result, the following conclusions are derived: (1) If the strategies of North Korea to South Korea satisfy certain condition and situation, the strategies repeat among four patterns. (2) The objective of North Korea to South Korea-“the Communization unification in the Korean Peninsula”- seems to remain unchanged until now and according to the objective of North Korea, it is verified that the strategies repeat the same pattern. (3) It was verified that the determinant of North’s strategy to South Korea is to have securing of initiative toward South. In this sense, recently, provocation of North Korea is an extreme form of the confrontation strategy and how long this situation will last is unpredictable. However, as being based on the hypotheses, it can be predictable that the strategies of North Korea will follow specific patterns. If North Korea concentrates on their internal affairs or NK-US relation, they will execute the wait-and-see strategy. If they intend to cover up international criticism, they will execute the dialogue strategy. If they need to consolidate bargaining power against South Korea, they will execute the confrontation strategy. Consequently, Park Geun-hye’s government should prepare corresponding measures against the strategies of North Korea to South Korea. 본 논문의 목적은 이명박 정부 하 북한의 대남전략과 그 결정요인을 분석하는 데 있다. 본 논문의 가설은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 북한의 대남전략에는 일정한 패턴이 있고, 이를 △대결전략, △대화전략, △병행전략, △관망전략으로 패턴화할 수 있다. 둘째, 북한의 ‘한반도 공산화통일’이라는 대남목표가 변하지 않는 한, 그를 수행하기 위한 대남전략 역시 불변이다. 셋째, 북한의 대남전략 결정요인은 ‘대남 주도권 확보’이고, 여기에는 강경한 방식과 온건한 방식이 있다. 위 가설을 검증하기 위해 본론에서 북한의 대남전략을 유형화 해, 이명박 정부 하에 적용해 보았다. 그 결과 다음과 같은 결론이 도출되었다. 첫째, 북한의 대남전략은 어떤 조건과 상황이 만족되면 4가지 패턴 내에서 반복된다. 즉, 이명박 정부 시기 5년 동안 북한은 4번의 대결전략, 1번의 대화전략, 2번의 병행전략, 2번 관망전략 등 총 9번에 걸쳐 대남목표 달성을 위한 전략 변화를 반복했다. 둘째, 북한의 한반도 공산화 통일이라는 대남목표는 현재까지 불변이며, 그에 따른 수행전략 역시 동일한 패턴의 반복이라는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 셋째, 북한 대남전략 결정요인은 ‘대남 주도권 확보’라는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 대남목표의 달성을 위해 북한은 협상의 주도권을 확보해야 하고, 그것의 강경한 방식의 결과가 대결전략이고, 온건한 방식의 결과가 대화전략이라는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이렇게 볼 때, 최근 북한의 도발은 대결전략의 극단적 모습으로, 이 국면이 언제까지 지속될지는 알 수 없다. 그러나 본 논문에 입각하면, 향후 북한의 대남전략이 어떤 패턴을 보일지는 예상할 수 있다. 즉, 북한이 내부적 문제나 미북관계에 집중한다면 관망전략을, 국제사회의 비난을 무마하고자 한다면 대화전략을, 대남 협상력을 극대화하고자 한다면 대결전략을 구사할 것이다. 따라서 박근혜 정부는 북한의 이러한 대남전략 행태에 따른 대응방안을 강구해야 한다.

남한의 민주화에 대한 북한의 대남인식과 전략 -김영삼, 김대중 정부를 중심으로-

박수유 ( Park Soo Yoo ) 평화문제연구소 2023 통일문제연구 Vol.35 No.1

North Korea's strategy for the South Korean Revolution was proposed as the democratic base theory immediately after liberation. It is based on the perception that South Korea is in a dictatorship without legitimacy in its colonial subjugation to the United States. However, as a result of the peaceful regime change to the opposition parties following the end of authoritarian rule in the 1990s, South Korean Revolution policy moved to the theory of independent democratic government in a way that includes legitimate political space such as the election. North Korea recognized the South Korea’s liberal regime as a partner for anti-U.S. cooperation. There was less room for North Korea's political propaganda to work in the democratized South Korean civil society and the South Korean regime, which had a diplomatic and economic advantage, had to be recognized as a negotiating partner. As a result, the strategy against South Korea was expanded to the 'national cooperation theory' that emphasizes cooperation with the South Korean government. The study analyzed primary data such as North Korea's media, top leaders' books, and major publications to find out that the factor of democratization of South Korea had an important influence on North Korea's change in the 1990s.

통일, 남과 북, 기독교의 역할

박영환(Park, Young-whan) 한국선교신학회 2009 선교신학 Vol.22 No.-

The South Korea is setting wholistic crisis, such as world economic crisis, hard economic crisis, and nuclear problem of North Korea. The North Korea directly talk with the United States and Obama president address about the North Korea, so South-North Korea have uncomfortable relationship each other. In this situation, I defined the roles of South Korea Christian through three step in the article. First, the North Korea is inseparable from understanding of the South Korea against speech of Mass media. Some speeches wrong announce between North Korea and South Korea relationship, the North Korea ahead attack to South Korea. If North Korea give up nuclear, the South Korea actively change recognition with relationship of the North Korea. Second, the direction of South Korea government attempts to “partnership and cooperation”, improve to relationship with the North Korea through denuclearization. Third, the role of South Korea Christian and normality of South- North relationship can support denuclearization of North Korea. Now the Christianity of South Korea got the trust from North Korea, because the Christianity continual support from a humanitarian point of view to the North Korea. Therefore, the Christianity of South Korea should be try to deeply search benefit toward the North Korea mission and unification. I think that this answer is the Bible. The South Korea and Christianity need more reconciliation, forgiveness, devotion, and consideration toward the North Korea. It may help to establish trust each other to the unification of South-North Korea.

Comparative Analysis of North and South Korean Medical Care Systems

최용민,이희완 사단법인 한국평화연구학회 2009 평화학연구 Vol.10 No.2

North Korea has sharply confronted South Korea with totally different politics and ideologies for the last half century. Since the death of Kim Il Sung, the serious economic recession in North Korea has caused food shortage and poor conditions of people's health and quality of life. This study was conducted to provide basic data for developmental and future-oriented model for integration of North and South Korean medical care system through comparatively analyzing the two Korean systems. It goes without saying that contrastive medical care system is developed in North and South Korea. North Korea has pursued 'universalization of medical security' through national monopoly of means of production. Medical care system of North Korea is characterized as free medical treatment system, the system of district assigned to individual doctor, valuing of preventive medicine, and cooperative medical care between Oriental Medicine and Western medicine. On the other hand, in South Korea the compulsory health insurance program has been implemented for the entire population. Medical Assistance Act has been also introduced to provide medical service to those without the means to pay. Studies of North and South Korean medical care system must be continued in order to explore how the weak points of North and South Korean medical systems make up for, and to minimize social conflict and economic burden in the process of peaceful unification. North Korea has sharply confronted South Korea with totally different politics and ideologies for the last half century. Since the death of Kim Il Sung, the serious economic recession in North Korea has caused food shortage and poor conditions of people's health and quality of life. This study was conducted to provide basic data for developmental and future-oriented model for integration of North and South Korean medical care system through comparatively analyzing the two Korean systems. It goes without saying that contrastive medical care system is developed in North and South Korea. North Korea has pursued 'universalization of medical security' through national monopoly of means of production. Medical care system of North Korea is characterized as free medical treatment system, the system of district assigned to individual doctor, valuing of preventive medicine, and cooperative medical care between Oriental Medicine and Western medicine. On the other hand, in South Korea the compulsory health insurance program has been implemented for the entire population. Medical Assistance Act has been also introduced to provide medical service to those without the means to pay. Studies of North and South Korean medical care system must be continued in order to explore how the weak points of North and South Korean medical systems make up for, and to minimize social conflict and economic burden in the process of peaceful unification.

장성택 처형 이후 북한의 대남정책

양무진 ( Moo Jin Yang ) 북한연구학회 2014 北韓硏究學會報 Vol.18 No.1

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of Jang Song Thaek`s execution on North Korean regime with particular attention paid to its South Korea policy. The purge of the second most powerful man, Jang Song Thaek followed by termination of Choe Ryong Hae from his position as the Director of the Korean People`s Army(KPA) General Political Bureau will be closely examined to gauge how these changes will influence domestic politics and South Korea policy of North Korea. In addition, this paper will attempt to suggest the future direction and appropriate response to North Korea`s new South Korea policy after Jang Song Thaek`s execution. Fundamentally, North Korea`s South Korea policy is based on the Juche ideology, “revolutionization of South Korean society,” and the “Three-Point Charter for National Reunification” consisting of notions of “Three Principles of National Reunification,” the “Plan of Establishing the Democratic Federal Republic of Koryo,” and the “Ten Point Program of the Great Unity of the Whole Nation.” With such underlying principles, North Korea`s policy toward the South consisted of both change and continuity. However, Kim Jong Un`s South Korea policy is not known to possess originality or uniqueness, and deemed not much different from his predecessors, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il`s eras. Similarly, no remarkable change in inter-Korean relations can be observed despite the recent leadership changes with the launch of Kim Jong Un regime and new government in South Korea. During the period when North Korean system was unstable, North Korea heightened military tensions on the Korean peninsula. In actuality, North Korea attempted to minimize the impact of Jang`s execution on the regime by taking a softer approach toward the South. Recently, however, North Korea`s threat toward the South is escalating more than ever. Thus, the association between the changes in domestic trends and its South Korea policy cannot be disregarded. Despite the fact the recent purge of Jang and termination of Choe is not likely to cause substantial and direct impact on North-South relations or its South Korea policy, but the change in the power structure inside North Korea can become an impeding factor for North Korea to adopt an affirmative policy toward South Korea. After the execution of Jang Song Thaek, North Korea is likely to minimize the impact of Jang`s execution on the system and will attempt to create a stable environment through minimization of South Korea`s intervention and involvement in North Korean matters, which is different from its hard- or soft-line policies toward the South. In fact, this approach may be a strategy to make South to become more anxious. This change in attitude could be attributed to the realization that hardline policy has imposed more burden and isolation on the regime and improving inter-Korean relations cannot be discounted as it influences relations with other neighboring countries including China, Japan, and the United States. South Korean government is taking a cautious stance toward North Korea`s South Korea policy. In the past, North Korea has displayed mixed reactions of switching back and forth between dialogues and provocations. Thus, Seoul is somewhat more circumspect on North Korea`s policy toward the South from early this year since Jang Song Thaek`s purge.