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North and South Korea bicker over dates and venues for peace talks North and South Korea bicker over dates and venues for peace talks
(about 1 hour later)
North and South Korea are arguing about where to hold peace talks scheduled for Sunday, as their mutual interest in mending relations clashed with mistrust stemming from years of animosity. North and South Korea are arguing about where to hold peace talks scheduled for Sunday, as their mutual interest in mending relations clashes with mistrust stemming from years of animosity.
South Korea's suggestion that officials meet in the truce village of Panmunjom straddling the heavily armed border between the two countries came hours after Pyongyang said it favours holding talks in its border city of Kaesong on Friday. A South Korean suggestion that officials meet in the truce village of Panmunjom, straddling the heavily armed border between the two countries, came hours after Pyongyang said it favoured holding talks in its border city of Kaesong on Friday.
South Korea had suggested high-level talks on Wednesday in Seoul, but North Korea said it wanted lower-level talks first because the countries' "relations have been stalemated for years and mistrust has reached the extremity". South Korea had suggested high-level talks in Seoul, but North Korea said it wanted lower-level talks first because the countries' "relations have been stalemated for years and mistrust has reached the extremity".
Two officials with Seoul's unification ministry, which deals with North Korea matters, said South Korea made the latest proposal through a cross-border Red Cross communications line newly reopened by the North. Pyongyang didn't immediately respond to the offer, but even the restoration of the line signals an easing of tensions. The line, used for exchanging messages on humanitarian and other issues, was shut down by the North in March during a week of animosity marked by North Korean threats of war and South Korean vows of counterstrikes. Two officials with Seoul's unification ministry, which deals with North Korean matters, said South Korea made the latest proposal through a cross-border Red Cross communications line newly reopened by the North. Pyongyang did not immediately respond to the offer, but even the restoration of the line signals an easing of tensions. The line, used for exchanging messages on humanitarian and other issues, was shut down by the North in March during a week of animosity marked by North Korean threats of war and South Korean vows of counterstrikes.
Friday's developments followed agreement a day earlier to hold talks on issues, including reopening a jointly run industrial complex in Kaesong that had been the last symbol of inter-Korean co-operation before it closed this spring. The news was welcomed by both sides. Friday's developments followed agreement a day earlier to hold talks on issues including reopening a jointly run industrial complex in Kaesong which had been the last symbol of inter-Korean co-operation before it closed in April. The news was welcomed by both sides.
Kwak Sok Gyong, a Pyongyang resident, said the North's announcement "reflects what people want in both north and south. I think the relations between north and south should be improved as soon as possible." North Koreans interviewed by foreign media in Pyongyang often echo statements carried by the official state media. Kwak Sok Gyong, a Pyongyang resident, said the North's announcement "reflects what people want in both north and south. I think the relations between north and south should be improved as soon as possible." North Koreans interviewed by foreign media in Pyongyang often echo statements carried by the official state media.
In Seoul, Park Gyeong-hyun, a 17-year-old student, said the Koreas have many unresolved problems, such as families separated by the war six decades ago. "So I view the talks as a positive thing because the relationship between the two Koreas will get better if the talks go well." In Seoul, Park Gyeong-hyun, a 17-year-old student, said the Koreas had many unresolved problems, such as families separated by the war six decades ago. "So I view the talks as a positive thing because the relationship between the two Koreas will get better if the talks go well."
Officials in Seoul said it wasn't yet clear what Sunday's talks, if they happen, will focus on. Such meetings normally involve lower-level officials ironing out administrative details and reporting back to their bosses. The next step would be higher-level talks. Officials in Seoul said it was not yet clear what Sunday's talks, if they happen, would focus on. Such meetings normally involve lower-level officials ironing out administrative details and reporting back to their bosses. The next step would be higher-level talks.
The last government-level contact between the countries on their peninsula took place in February 2011 at Panmunjom, according to the South's unification ministry. The mood on the peninsula has been particularly tense since the spring, with the tightening of UN sanctions after the North's third nuclear test in February and joint US-South-Korean drills. The North pulled out more than 50,000 workers from the joint Kaesong industrial zone and closed access to deliveries. The last government-level contact between the countries on their peninsula took place in February 2011 at Panmunjom, according to the South's unification ministry. The mood on the peninsula has been particularly tense since the spring, with the tightening of UN sanctions after the North's third nuclear test in February and joint US-South Korean drills. The North pulled out more than 50,000 workers from the joint Kaesong industrial zone and closed access to deliveries.
The proposed talks on reopening the factory complex could represent a change in North Korea's approach, analysts said, or could simply be an effort to ease international demands that it end its development of nuclear weapons, a topic crucial to Washington but not part of the planned inter-Korean meetings.The proposed talks on reopening the factory complex could represent a change in North Korea's approach, analysts said, or could simply be an effort to ease international demands that it end its development of nuclear weapons, a topic crucial to Washington but not part of the planned inter-Korean meetings.
Pyongyang understands that dialogue with Seoul is a precondition for any meaningful talks with the United States. The North's latest overtures are aimed at creating a mood that could lead to US-North Korea negotiations, said Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea expert at Korea University in South Korea.Pyongyang understands that dialogue with Seoul is a precondition for any meaningful talks with the United States. The North's latest overtures are aimed at creating a mood that could lead to US-North Korea negotiations, said Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea expert at Korea University in South Korea.
Because Pyongyang needs talks with Washington to win aid and security guarantees, "realistically, the North doesn't have a choice" in pursuing talks with Seoul. "Its relations with the United States can't improve while its relations with South Korea remain tense," Yoo said.Because Pyongyang needs talks with Washington to win aid and security guarantees, "realistically, the North doesn't have a choice" in pursuing talks with Seoul. "Its relations with the United States can't improve while its relations with South Korea remain tense," Yoo said.
Jen Psaki, US state department spokeswoman, said on Thursday that Washington supports improved inter-Korean relations, but cautioned that it doesn't signal progress on restarting talks on North Korea's nuclear programme. For that to happen, North Korea has to abide by its previous commitments to abandon its nuclear weapons, she said.Jen Psaki, US state department spokeswoman, said on Thursday that Washington supports improved inter-Korean relations, but cautioned that it doesn't signal progress on restarting talks on North Korea's nuclear programme. For that to happen, North Korea has to abide by its previous commitments to abandon its nuclear weapons, she said.
If the Koreas do meet on Sunday, the talks will follow a high-profile summit on Friday between the Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama in which North Korea is expected to be a key topic. Xi is also scheduled to meet the South Korean President Park Geun-hye later this month.If the Koreas do meet on Sunday, the talks will follow a high-profile summit on Friday between the Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama in which North Korea is expected to be a key topic. Xi is also scheduled to meet the South Korean President Park Geun-hye later this month.
Beijing, which is Pyongyang's only major economic and political ally, has expressed growing frustration with its neighbour, tightening inspections on cross-border trade and halting business with North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank. But Beijing, worried about its own economy and a possible influx of refugees, also views stability in Pyongyang as crucial.Beijing, which is Pyongyang's only major economic and political ally, has expressed growing frustration with its neighbour, tightening inspections on cross-border trade and halting business with North Korea's Foreign Trade Bank. But Beijing, worried about its own economy and a possible influx of refugees, also views stability in Pyongyang as crucial.
The proposals for dialogue by the Koreas follow a meeting late last month in Beijing by Xi and the North Korean military's top political officer, who reportedly expressed a willingness to "launch dialogue with all relevant parties".The proposals for dialogue by the Koreas follow a meeting late last month in Beijing by Xi and the North Korean military's top political officer, who reportedly expressed a willingness to "launch dialogue with all relevant parties".
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