A gradual de-thawing: Paul Bellamy reviews the establishment of New Zealand-North Korea diplomatic relations.

• Author: Bellamy, Paul

In recent years the Korean peninsula has witnessed significant tension, including clashes between both Koreas and nuclear tests. Moreover, a new president has been elected in South Korea and a transition initiated in North Korea, now ruled by a young, untested leader, a leader who currently shows little inclination towards making fundamental policy changes facilitating reconciliation and stability. Indeed, tensions have increased. Against this background, Wellington and Pyongyang have established, relatively lately, a tenuous diplomatic relationship. This was a challenging assignment. The relationship remains difficult, with New Zealand's concern over recent North Korean actions warranted. A cautious approach is advisable.

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Tensions on the Korean peninsula have repeatedly thrust the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the DPRK or North Korea) onto the centre stage of international relations. These tensions, often attributed primarily to Pyongyang, have caused global concern. Such concern has been shared by New Zealand, which did not establish diplomatic relations with the North until 2001. (1)

New Zealand-North Korean relations were tense after the Korean War and throughout the Cold War, but the 1970s started with an unplanned August 1971 meeting between the North Korean consul-general in Singapore and New Zealand's high commissioner, Tim Francis. The consul-general asked whether North Korean journalists could visit New Zealand. He was told this was 'highly unlikely', Francis emphasising New Zealand's relationship with the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Indeed, he said 'I fear I may have overdone things a little by my glowing tributes to the democratic nature of the Republic of Korea but it had the desired effect of persuading Mr Sok [Consul-General O. Man Sok] that there was little point in carrying the discussion further'.

This meeting took place because the North Koreans said they represented the 'Republic of Korea' when contacting the high commission, thus being mistaken for South Koreans. Francis labelled this a 'ruse' to 'confuse simple-minded heads of mission such as myself'. He apologised to the government for his 'diplomatic indiscretion', and any embarrassment caused by meeting the 'wrong' Korean representative. The ministry remarked that 'sooner or later we may have to let some North Koreans pay us a visit, but for the moment it does not seem to us to be a particularly appropriate time'.

North Korea's ambassador in China met Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Walding during the latter's visit to China in March 1973. According to mission member Chris Elder, after their arrival the Chinese asked if Walding would meet the ambassador. 'This was a bit embarrassing as we did not have diplomatic relations, but we did not want to disoblige our hosts', so the ambassador unofficially visited Walding's guest house. A 'highlight' for New Zealand officials involved Walding, after being 'deluged with references to Our Great Leader Kim Il-Sung, gravely saying that he would refer what he had heard to his Great Leader, Norman Kirk'.

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In December 1973 Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials felt that arguments in favour of moving towards recognising North Korea were 'conclusive'. These included the desire to help unite Asia, acceptance that two Koreas existed, and the inconsistency with the recognition of North Vietnam. Canberra thought Wellington was interested in recognising Pyongyang and might establish diplomatic relations at the same time as Australia. But when Australia did so, briefly, in 1974, New Zealand considered it preferable tactically to delay such action so as not to 'identify New Zealand's policy with Australia'. South Korea made a 'strong plea' for Wellington to try to dissuade Canberra from recognising Pyongyang. Indeed, it was reported that Seoul had threatened to break-off diplomatic relations with Australia, a course that New Zealand opposed.

Continuing reluctance

Wellington's reluctance to increase interaction with North Korea continued into the following decade. In 1980 the government refused visas for North Koreans seeking to visit New Zealand, but Member of Parliament Warren Freer went to North Korea that July. The New Zealand DPRK Society's first large-scale study tour took place in 1982--with another following two years later. Its leader noted that North Korea 'apparently had a very happy, healthy society', but he wondered if there were dissenters and what happened to them.

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