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North and South Koreas held a talk at DMZ on Feb. 8.
This is the 1st talk since North Korean shelling on
South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, in Nov 2010.
President Lee Myung-bak said, if N. Korea is sincere
an inter-Korean summit could be held.
Sino-Japan Diaoyu Island dispute is also easing.
However, the dispute over the Four Northern Islands
between Russia and Japan has again escalated.
The events of Cheonan warship sinking and N. Korean
shelling on Yeonpyeong island last year sparked
high levels of tension on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea held 48 large-scale military exercises
in 2010, alongside the U.S. aircraft carriers.
Since the beginning of 2011, N. Korea expressed its
willingness to quickly eliminate confrontation and
restore dialogue. North, South Korea and the U.S.
all lowered their combat readiness levels.
President Lee Myung-bak said, he believed peace on
Korean Peninsula could be achieved in 2011.
He said on Dec. 29, 2010 that denuclearization of the
Peninsula could only be resolved by the 6-party talks.
After the Sino-U.S. summit, President Obama and
Hu Jintao issued a joint statement on Jan. 19,
expressing for the first time concerns about
N. Korean concentrated uranium issues
and supporting an inter-Korean dialogue.
Prof. Cai Jian, an expert on Korea at Fudan University:
Many believe that China and the U.S. are behind
North and South Koreas, so whether the two Koreas
can improve their relationship depends on
whether China and the U.S. would agree on the issue.
Both China and the U.S. stressed the denuclearization
on Korean Peninsula, which is welcomed by the South.
Shi Yinhong, professor of international relationship
at the People's University said, this is the 1st time
since 2009 that China indirectly criticized North Korea.
After the Sino-US summit, N. Korea proposed to hold
a defense minister meeting. S. Korea accepted the move,
but request N. Korea to show sincerity and apologize.
On Feb. 8, North and South Koreas held a colonel-level
military talk at DMZ, discussing higher level
military meetings and scheduling.
In April 2009, the UN Security Council denounced
N. Korea for launching rockets.
The North responded by quitting the 6-party talk,
restarting the nuclear facility,
and expelling the UN nuclear weapon inspectors.
Soon after, N. Korea carried out its 2nd nuclear test.
In Nov 2010, N. Korea showed the visiting U.S. scientist
Siegfried Hecker a facility of 2000 centrifuges
for uranium concentration.
On Jan. 28, a UN report showed that North Korea
possessed more advanced uranium concentration
technologies than Iran.
Huang Yingjing, ex-consul on Korean affairs in U.S.
Dept. of State, believes, current diplomatic efforts
are likely to result in the restoration of the 6-part talk.
He pointed out, this does not mean the talk aiming
at denuclearization can make a major progress,
but it is a way for all parties to ease tensions.
This is the lowest-cost approach to most countries.
Prof. Jin Rongyong, at Taiwan's National Chengchi Univ.:
If N. Korea does not obtain any financial support and
food supplies from western countries and S. Korea,
it would be difficult to survive.
So, sooner or later, it will come back to the talk.
Currently, North Korea is experiencing the longest
cold weather since 1945.
Food shortages are the most severe in recent years.
It is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
According to UNICEF's recent report,
32% of infants suffer from ateleiosis due to malnutrition.
83% of the population relies on underground economy.
China and Japan will restart the deputy foreign
minister-level strategic dialogue in Tokyo in late Feb.
Its aim is to discuss measures preventing
future ship collisions and repair bilateral relations.
However, in his speech in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6,
Japanese Foreign Minister Maehara said,
Japan's claim of Diaoyu Islands remains unchanged.
Taiwan Presidential Office reiterated on Jan. 11,
Diaoyu Islands are the territory of Republic of China.
NTD reporter Li Yuanhan
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South Korean president talks tough Added South Korea's president remarks on escalating tensions between North and South Korea CNN's Stan Grant reports by markacey02246 views
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