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Koreas conduct funeral diplomacy North Korea to lift border curbs
(about 3 hours later)
South Korea will approve North Korea's planned delegation to the funeral of former President Kim Dae-jung, South Korean media have reported. North Korea has said it will ease curbs on cross-border traffic imposed last December, South Korean media report.
The restrictions were placed on workers and cargo travelling to the joint factory zone in Kaesong, in the North.
The North also said it would restore an official communication channel as a team prepares to head to Seoul for ex-president Kim Dae-jung's funeral.
The moves are the latest in a series of what are being seen as conciliatory gestures from North Korea.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency and YTN television quoted a South Korean official as saying the North had informed Seoul of the decision to lift the traffic restrictions imposed last December.
South Korea earlier approved the visit of a delegation from Pyongyang for the funeral of Kim Dae-jung.
It will be the highest level delegation from the North to visit the South in at least two years.It will be the highest level delegation from the North to visit the South in at least two years.
Separately, North Korea has sent "good signals" that it wants to restart dialogue with the US over its nuclear programme, a US politician has said. The late Kim Dae-jung was renowned for his efforts at dialogue with the North. His funeral is being held in Seoul on Sunday.
The late Kim Dae-jung was renowned for his efforts at dialogue with the North. The North Koreans are sending good signals that they're ready to talk directly to the US Bill Richardson, US official
North Korea sent condolences directly to his family, and has sent the names of a six-person delegation it wants to attend the funeral scheduled for Sunday. North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il sent condolences to Kim Dae-jung's family after the former president's death on Tuesday.
South Korea will hold a state funeral for Kim Dae-jung at the National Assembly in Seoul, amid intense mourning for the man credited with opening dialogue with the North. Relations between the two Koreas thrived under Kim Dae-jung's presidency, but took a turn for the worse when conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office last year.
A spokesperson from South Korea's Unification Ministry said the names would be approved.
The delegation will be led by senior Workers' Party official Kim Ki-nam and will include the country's spy chief, Kim Yang-gon. The two are considered senior aides to the North's leader Kim Jong-il.The delegation will be led by senior Workers' Party official Kim Ki-nam and will include the country's spy chief, Kim Yang-gon. The two are considered senior aides to the North's leader Kim Jong-il.
Ready to talk?Ready to talk?
A recent offer by the North to restart family reunion programmes has prompted the South Korean office of the Red Cross to propose fresh talks next week. The lifting of the border traffic restrictions follows earlier conciliatory moves from Pyongyang.
"Our proposal will be sent to North Korea today, calling for three-day Red Cross talks between the two sides from August 26," said a spokesman for the Red Cross, which runs the reunion programme along with its Northern counterpart. After a recent offer by the North to restart family reunion programmes, the South Korean office of the Red Cross proposed fresh talks on the issue for next week.
"Our proposal will be sent to North Korea today, calling for three-day Red Cross talks between the two sides from August 26," said a spokesman for the Red Cross, which runs the reunion programme along with its northern counterpart.
Tens of thousands of family members have been separated since the 1950-53 war and in many cases do not even know if loved ones are still alive.Tens of thousands of family members have been separated since the 1950-53 war and in many cases do not even know if loved ones are still alive.
Mr Richardson said he had detected a "lessening of tensions"Mr Richardson said he had detected a "lessening of tensions"
The latest moves come after US politician Bill Richardson held rare talks with North Korean envoys in his state of New Mexico.The latest moves come after US politician Bill Richardson held rare talks with North Korean envoys in his state of New Mexico.
Mr Richardson, New Mexico's governor, said he had detected a "lessening of tension" since former US President Bill Clinton's recent visit to Pyongyang.Mr Richardson, New Mexico's governor, said he had detected a "lessening of tension" since former US President Bill Clinton's recent visit to Pyongyang.
But he said North Korea still refused to return to multilateral talks.But he said North Korea still refused to return to multilateral talks.
He said the recent visit by Mr Clinton to North Korea, to secure to the release of two US journalists, had "helped thaw relations".He said the recent visit by Mr Clinton to North Korea, to secure to the release of two US journalists, had "helped thaw relations".
Pyongyang had "obviously used the journalists as a bargaining chip" and was now seeking a "gesture" in return, Mr Richardson said.Pyongyang had "obviously used the journalists as a bargaining chip" and was now seeking a "gesture" in return, Mr Richardson said.
"The North Koreans are sending good signals, that they're ready to talk directly to the United States," he said."The North Koreans are sending good signals, that they're ready to talk directly to the United States," he said.
Mr Richardson has a history with North Korea: on two occasions in the 1990s he visited Pyongyang to secure the release of Americans being held there.Mr Richardson has a history with North Korea: on two occasions in the 1990s he visited Pyongyang to secure the release of Americans being held there.
The BBC's Charles Scanlon said North Korea's diplomacy is following a familiar pattern - first belligerence: the walkouts and flaunting of military muscle, followed by a return to diplomacy and demands for further concessions.The BBC's Charles Scanlon said North Korea's diplomacy is following a familiar pattern - first belligerence: the walkouts and flaunting of military muscle, followed by a return to diplomacy and demands for further concessions.