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South Korea political scandal's influence on inter-Korean relations

Reporter: Shane Hahm 丨 CCTV.com

12-09-2016 14:19 BJT

The developments in South Korea are being closely monitored in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. CCTV's reporter takes a closer look at how the current state of affairs affects the relations with the DPRK, and the future of inter-Korean relations.

The president of the Republic of Korea under pressure to resign, and the DPRK is keeping a close eye on how events unfold.

State media has joined the chorus criticizing President Park Geun-hye over a scandal putting her on the verge of impeachment.

"The Park Geun-hye regime should stop at once its anachronistic fascist suppression and step down as wanted by the trend of the times and the public," said KRT news reader.

Since assuming office nearly four years ago, President Park has kept a hard-line policy in dealing with the DPRK.

Relations between the two sides have deteriorated considerably, with Pyongyang conducting multiple underground nuclear tests and firing off a series of missiles in recent times.

For its part, Seoul shut down a joint inter-Korean economic project and in July decided to deploy a controversial anti-missile defense system on its soil.

"President Park Geun-hye has employed a hard-line approach, a more conservative approach toward North Korea, a tougher line, saying that she will not tolerate or accept any provocation or further provocations," said Duyeon Kim, research fellow of Inst. For The Study Of Diplomacy, Georgetown Univ. 

"This current political turmoil that she’s in right now, I don’t think it will actually affect any of South Korea’s policies or approaches toward North Korea."

Uncertainty surrounding the ROK's commander-in-chief is a concern for security and defense. But it's unlikely the DPRK will deliberately raise tensions at such a time of political unrest.

"There's a chance for low-scale armed protests like short-range missiles or new artillery just to see South Korea's reaction. But chances for a high-scale provocation like a nuclear test or long-range rocket launch are slim," said Professor Yang Moo-Jin, University of North Korean Studies.

If President Park Geun-hye is indeed removed from office before the end of her term, there's still no clear frontrunner to take over the job. Whoever it may be, the next president faces the task of improving ties with Pyongyang while working with a new incoming U.S. administration to deal with the security situation here on the Korean Peninsula. 

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