By John Power
South Korea says the North apologized for the landmine incident. But did it?
When is an apology not an apology at all? One answer could be when it has emerged out of a marathon bout of diplomacy to resolve a standoff between North and South Korea.
After more than 48 hours of talks with his North Korean counterpart, South Korean National Security Advisor Kim Kwan-jin emerged Tuesday with surprising news: North Korea had apologized for a landmine attack earlier this month that maimed two of the South’s soldiers.
Kim’s remarks seemed to vindicate a vow made by President Park Geun-hye just hours previously. Park pledged that Seoul would not cease propaganda broadcasts, resumed for the first time in 11 years in retaliation for the landmine incident, without a clear apology from Pyongyang.
Under Tuesday’s deal, aimed at easing tensions that spiked after the North fired on the propaganda loudspeakers on Thursday, Seoul matched the apparent admission with an end to the broadcasts. But, in fact, there had never been an apology, much less a clear one. The Seoul government had simply spun a highly ambiguous, noncommittal statement signed off on by Pyongyang. In doing so, both sides were given a chance to save face.
Read the full story at The Diplomat