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| North and South Korea Agree to First Dialogue in Years | North and South Korea Agree to First Dialogue in Years |
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| SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea on Thursday agreed to hold their first government dialogue in years, raising hopes that they were moving toward a thaw in relations after a prolonged standoff marked by military provocations from the North and retaliatory economic penalties from the South. | SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea on Thursday agreed to hold their first government dialogue in years, raising hopes that they were moving toward a thaw in relations after a prolonged standoff marked by military provocations from the North and retaliatory economic penalties from the South. |
| The development came after North Korea made a surprise overture on Thursday, proposing official negotiations with the South to discuss reopening two shuttered joint economic projects as well as humanitarian projects. South Korea, which has demanded such talks in recent months, quickly accepted the offer, proposing that the two sides hold a cabinet minister-level meeting in Seoul next Wednesday. | The development came after North Korea made a surprise overture on Thursday, proposing official negotiations with the South to discuss reopening two shuttered joint economic projects as well as humanitarian projects. South Korea, which has demanded such talks in recent months, quickly accepted the offer, proposing that the two sides hold a cabinet minister-level meeting in Seoul next Wednesday. |
| The quick sequence marked a dramatic turn of events on the divided Korean Peninsula, and it comes a day before President Barack Obama is to meet in California with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea’s main ally, where the North’s behavior was expected to be a main topic. | The quick sequence marked a dramatic turn of events on the divided Korean Peninsula, and it comes a day before President Barack Obama is to meet in California with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea’s main ally, where the North’s behavior was expected to be a main topic. |
| The two Koreas had cut off official dialogue soon after North Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean tourist in 2008 and the Seoul government retaliated by suspending tours to a North Korean mountain resort. | The two Koreas had cut off official dialogue soon after North Korean soldiers shot and killed a South Korean tourist in 2008 and the Seoul government retaliated by suspending tours to a North Korean mountain resort. |
| Tensions peaked this year after North Korea launched another long-range rocket in December and conducted its third nuclear test in February, both in violation of United Nations resolutions. Pyongyang then threatened nuclear strikes at Washington and Seoul following the tightening of U.N. sanctions. | Tensions peaked this year after North Korea launched another long-range rocket in December and conducted its third nuclear test in February, both in violation of United Nations resolutions. Pyongyang then threatened nuclear strikes at Washington and Seoul following the tightening of U.N. sanctions. |
| “Our position has been consistent for promoting the reconciliation and solidarity of the nation and achieving reunification and peaceful prosperity,” said a statement Thursday from North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. “The South’s authorities should not miss this opportunity if they really want to build trust and improve North-South relations.” | “Our position has been consistent for promoting the reconciliation and solidarity of the nation and achieving reunification and peaceful prosperity,” said a statement Thursday from North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. “The South’s authorities should not miss this opportunity if they really want to build trust and improve North-South relations.” |
| North Korea proposed that the two Koreas discuss reopening the Kaesong joint industrial complex just north of the Demilitarized Zone separating the countries. The 8-year-old complex, a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, was shuttered after North Korea cut cross-border communications and pulled out all its 53,000 workers in April. | North Korea proposed that the two Koreas discuss reopening the Kaesong joint industrial complex just north of the Demilitarized Zone separating the countries. The 8-year-old complex, a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, was shuttered after North Korea cut cross-border communications and pulled out all its 53,000 workers in April. |
| North Korea also proposed resuming the cross-border tours suspended since 2008, as well as reviving Red Cross programs for arranging the temporary reunions of aging Korean families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. | |
| The South’s Unification Ministry accepted the North Korean overture as a “positive” sign. Until Thursday, North Korea had rejected the South’s repeated call for official dialogue to discuss the fate of the Kaesong factory park. | The South’s Unification Ministry accepted the North Korean overture as a “positive” sign. Until Thursday, North Korea had rejected the South’s repeated call for official dialogue to discuss the fate of the Kaesong factory park. |
| “We hope the government-to-government talks will become an opportunity to build trust between the South and North,” it said in a statement. | “We hope the government-to-government talks will become an opportunity to build trust between the South and North,” it said in a statement. |
| China has grown increasingly frustrated with North Korea’s nuclear ambitions but remains concerned that applying more pressure on the country — an approach championed by Washington and Seoul — raised the risk of destabilizing the paranoid regime in Pyongyang and the region. Instead, it sought to bring the United States, the two Koreas, Japan and Russia back into six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear weapons program. | China has grown increasingly frustrated with North Korea’s nuclear ambitions but remains concerned that applying more pressure on the country — an approach championed by Washington and Seoul — raised the risk of destabilizing the paranoid regime in Pyongyang and the region. Instead, it sought to bring the United States, the two Koreas, Japan and Russia back into six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear weapons program. |
| When a special envoy of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met Mr. Xi in Beijing in late May, official Chinese media reported that North Korea promised to “accept the suggestion of the Chinese side and launch dialogue with all relevant parties.” Until then, North Korea had said it was no longer interested in the six-nation talks. | |
| “North Korea is trying to strengthen Xi’s hand in his upcoming talks with Obama,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul. “It is trying to shift the international focus from applying sanctions and pressure on the North to starting dialogue with it.” | “North Korea is trying to strengthen Xi’s hand in his upcoming talks with Obama,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul. “It is trying to shift the international focus from applying sanctions and pressure on the North to starting dialogue with it.” |
| The North Korean proposal on Thursday for talks was far broader in scale than the limited inter-Korean dialogue the government of President Park Geun-hye in Seoul had proposed to help South Korean factory owners bring out finished goods from the shuttered Kaesong factory complex. | The North Korean proposal on Thursday for talks was far broader in scale than the limited inter-Korean dialogue the government of President Park Geun-hye in Seoul had proposed to help South Korean factory owners bring out finished goods from the shuttered Kaesong factory complex. |
| Analysts said the North Korean proposal could force Ms. Park to decide whether to revive the inter-Korean projects without any progress in denuclearizing North Korea. South Korea said the date and agenda for the talks with North Korea would be announced later, once the North restored cross-border communication lines, as it said on Thursday it would. | Analysts said the North Korean proposal could force Ms. Park to decide whether to revive the inter-Korean projects without any progress in denuclearizing North Korea. South Korea said the date and agenda for the talks with North Korea would be announced later, once the North restored cross-border communication lines, as it said on Thursday it would. |
| Analysts said the North is seeking a return to the level of inter-Korean economic cooperation that had prevailed on the peninsula for a decade until 2008. Family reunions, the fate of the Kaesong complex and the tourism program in the North’s Diamond Mountain were among the best-known joint projects from that era. | Analysts said the North is seeking a return to the level of inter-Korean economic cooperation that had prevailed on the peninsula for a decade until 2008. Family reunions, the fate of the Kaesong complex and the tourism program in the North’s Diamond Mountain were among the best-known joint projects from that era. |
| North Korea’s overture comes as it pursues a double-barreled goal of reviving its moribund economy while simultaneously expanding its nuclear arsenal. It recently unveiled a new set of incentives designed to raise productivity in farms and factories. | |
| In her Memorial Day speech on Thursday, Ms. Park, who is scheduled to meet Mr. Xi in late June, reiterated her criticism of North Korea's aggressive policies. She said they would "never work and would only isolate it" and that North Korea needed to give up nuclear weapons and open the way for the international community to ease sanctions and help it with its economy. | In her Memorial Day speech on Thursday, Ms. Park, who is scheduled to meet Mr. Xi in late June, reiterated her criticism of North Korea's aggressive policies. She said they would "never work and would only isolate it" and that North Korea needed to give up nuclear weapons and open the way for the international community to ease sanctions and help it with its economy. |
| Despite the development, some analysts were skeptical. As the two Koreas moved toward official dialogue, "there is no fundamental change in their positions," said Dong Yong-seung, a North Korea specialist at the Samsung Economic Research Institute. “Denuclearization remains a stumbling block.” | Despite the development, some analysts were skeptical. As the two Koreas moved toward official dialogue, "there is no fundamental change in their positions," said Dong Yong-seung, a North Korea specialist at the Samsung Economic Research Institute. “Denuclearization remains a stumbling block.” |
| For decades, North Korea has been trying to force Washington to start a dialogue to sign a peace treaty with it. But the United States had in recent years wanted to deal with the North mainly within the framework of the six-nation talks on denuclearization, which were last held in 2008. | For decades, North Korea has been trying to force Washington to start a dialogue to sign a peace treaty with it. But the United States had in recent years wanted to deal with the North mainly within the framework of the six-nation talks on denuclearization, which were last held in 2008. |
| After years of engagement, North Korea still did not end its nuclear programs, leaving Washington now reluctant to resume those talks unless North Korea shows sincerity in giving up its nuclear weapons. Washington also wants North Korea to improve ties with South Korea first. | After years of engagement, North Korea still did not end its nuclear programs, leaving Washington now reluctant to resume those talks unless North Korea shows sincerity in giving up its nuclear weapons. Washington also wants North Korea to improve ties with South Korea first. |
| The North Korean proposal on Thursday indicated that Pyongyang was embracing at least part of Washington’s demands. | The North Korean proposal on Thursday indicated that Pyongyang was embracing at least part of Washington’s demands. |