Chinese Daily: N. Korea Needs Open-door Policy

The Chinese daily Global Times, an affiliate of the People’s Daily of the Chinese Communist Party, urged North Korea Friday to gradually adopt an open-door policy.

In an editorial, the Global Times said, “Opening up will pose risks to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but it will face bigger risks if it maintains its current policy. It will find out which way is better. The DPRK should understand that it has to seize opportunities. It probably will not have many opportunities.”

It is rare for a state-run Chinese media outlet to urge the North to open up.

The Global Times said the confrontation on the Korean Peninsula has worsened, adding, “The U.S. and the Republic of Korea should not attempt to disrupt the DPRK regime and should throw away their hostile attitude. Needless to say, the DPRK should also regret its past wrongdoings.”

“Many nations have conflicts with the U.S. The confrontation between the U.S. and the DPRK, however, has been an obstacle to eradicating the Cold War system on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK should strive to ease its conflicts instead of further aggravating unconstructive circumstances."

The daily added, "Over the past few years, the DPRK has had several chances to ease tension with the U.S., Japan and South Korea, but has not made good use of them. Instead, it has strongly believed that nuclear weapons will be its safeguard.”

In an editorial carried Wednesday, the Global Times mentioned the incident, saying, “The DPRK should prove if it had nothing to do with the incident, or it should admit fault if it was involved.”

On Friday, the Global Times and Reference News, a daily newspaper published by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, carried headlines about tension on the Korean Peninsula such as “Korean Peninsula Walking on the Blade of a Sword” and “The Korean Peninsula: a Castle in the Sand.”

bonhong@donga.com