Understanding Korean choices.

• Author: McGibbon, Ian
• Position: Current Korean Peninsula conflict

As the Korean Armistice turns 60, Ian McGibbon urges more understanding of the historical context of the current crisis on the peninsula and of possible choices that might confront this country.

Between 1950 and 1953 New Zealand took part in the Korean War, a conflict that erupted suddenly when North Korea invaded its southern neighbour. More than 6000 New Zealanders served in Korea, in all, whether on two frigates or in a ground force. The North Korean attempt forcibly to reunite Korea failed in the face of vigorous US-led action by the United Nations. But when Chinese People's Volunteers entered Korea the struggle became an indirect contest between the United States and China. The stalemate eventually opened the way for armistice negotiations, which after long delay culminated in an armistice on 27 July 1953. Following the armistice New Zealand pledged to return to the fray should South Korea again be subjected to aggression--a pledge that has continuing relevance.

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On 27 July it will be 60 years since the Korean truce brought to an end fighting that had ravaged the Korean peninsula for more than three years. The armistice agreement established a framework for security that has endured because of the failure to achieve a peace settlement. It remains a point of contention, however, with Korean leader Kim Jong Un declaring, in March this year, that his country no longer recognised it--even though the security framework remains firmly in place.

As tension on the peninsula has risen in recent months, with a series of belligerent threats by Kim, New Zealand's likely response to a new conflict on the Korean peninsula has been brought under the spotlight. Prime Minister John Key caused a flurry when on 4 April he suggested, in China, that New Zealand might be involved in support of South Korea. 'Taken to the extreme and without interventions and without some resolutions of the issues, that is of course possible....', Key stated. (1) 'Obviously we've got a long and proud history of coming to the support of South Korea so we'd always assess that on its merits.' It was, of course, ironical that he made this statement standing alongside the leader of the country whose troops New Zealanders had fought in Korea.

Back in New Zealand Key's comments agitated the opposition parties. They vigorously challenged his stance, even as he backtracked. The Greens' Dr Russel Norman insisted that New Zealand should always look to be involved in any such hostilities as part of a multilateral effort. 'It seems to me', opined Norman, 'international law and working within the UN charter should be the framework for the New Zealand Government's response, not as John Key says where the US and Australia goes, New Zealand goes'. (2) Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Phil Goff described Key's statement as 'amateurish and ill-timed' and maintained that 'New Zealand does not blindly follow any other country with respect to decisions about engaging in wars'. (3)

Historical context

These opposition comments demonstrate an abysmal lack of knowledge of the historical context of the current crisis--the Korean War of 1950-53. This conflict began on 25 June 1950 as an attempt by Kim Jong Un's grandfather Kim I1 Sung, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and founder of the Kim dynasty, forcibly to reunite the country, divided since the end of Japanese rule in 1945. He did so with the blessing of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong.

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Significantly, this sudden onslaught came as a shock because no one in the West expected Kim I1 Sung to launch actual hostilities, as opposed to a war of words. Such...