Indonesia aims to be ‘neutral conduit’ between 2 Koreas with visit to Pyongyang

Indonesia could become an unlikely mediator in reconciling the two Koreas on their troubled peninsula, according to observers who cite a recent meeting between its foreign minister and his North Korean counterpart.

Analysts also say Jakarta could play the middleman in strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Southeast Asia, given that North Korea is looking to expand its global diplomatic footprint.

The visit by Foreign Minister Sugiono to Pyongyang last week on the invitation of his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, marked the first such trip by an Indonesian official in 12 years. Sugiono was leading an Indonesian delegation to attend Pyongyang’s military parade to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Sugiono said in the bilateral talks that his country was eager to facilitate closer engagement between North Korea and the 10 members of Asean through mechanisms such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, according to a statement by the Indonesian foreign ministry issued on Saturday.

Gatra Priyandita, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said Sugiono’s visit underscored Jakarta’s active foreign policy and its ambition to act as a bridge between competing groups – be it the United States and China, or the two Koreas.

“The visit was more about demonstrating Indonesia’s diplomatic autonomy and potential credentials as a mediator in a fractured international order,” he said.

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