Monday, January 04, 2010
North Korea Watch: The Promise of New Year
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has proposed regular dialogue with North Korea, even going so far as to propose that the two nations establish liaison offices in one another's capitals.
North Korea has not gone for that yet, but has sent other signals of a shift in their approach, though questions remain as to whether or not they're prepared to negotiate out of their nuclear arsenal.
The Herald also reports that, for the first time, the North has included English letters in its New Year's message, perhaps to due to the fact that heir apparent Kim Jong-eun has received a foreign education, which they will surely emphasize as he comes to power, if not sooner.
Furthermore, the North's messages regarding the New Year emphasized not military strength, but an improvement in industry, agriculture, and standard of living. To do accomplish these things, the North is almost certainly going to have to open its diplomatic channels.
North Korea has not gone for that yet, but has sent other signals of a shift in their approach, though questions remain as to whether or not they're prepared to negotiate out of their nuclear arsenal.
The Herald also reports that, for the first time, the North has included English letters in its New Year's message, perhaps to due to the fact that heir apparent Kim Jong-eun has received a foreign education, which they will surely emphasize as he comes to power, if not sooner.
Furthermore, the North's messages regarding the New Year emphasized not military strength, but an improvement in industry, agriculture, and standard of living. To do accomplish these things, the North is almost certainly going to have to open its diplomatic channels.
Labels: north korea
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