Analysts say the North's offer to mend inter-Korean ties, which reportedly includes proposed summit talks, are largely aimed at driving a wedge in the Seoul-Washington alliance to weaken U.S.-led international sanctions.

North Korea has used a high-level delegation -- sent to Seoul to pay respects to the late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who died last week -- to deliver a message from its leader Kim Jong Il to his South Korean counterpart, President Lee Myung-bak.

The condolence envoys led by Kim Ki Nam, one of the closest aides of the North Korean leader, extended their stay in Seoul by a day to have a chance to meet Lee, who has ruled out restoring inter-Korean ties without an agreement to resolve the North's nuclear issues.

South Korea's major newspapers, Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo, said the message contained a proposal for an inter-Korean summit. The North Korean leader expressed his hope in the message that "the North and the South would cooperate to resolve all issues," the newspapers said.

The presidential office denied the reports on the proposed summit, however. "There were only general discussions on the development of South-North relations," Lee's office said in a statement on Monday. "The North Korean leader's message did not include any proposal for a summit," it said.

The presidential office added that Lee would support any form of meeting with North Korea -- including a summit -- at any time if the communist country committed to giving up its nuclear weapons programs.

Lee has also said he would set up a $40 billion international investment fund with input from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other governments to triple North Korea's per capita income to $3,000 within the next 10 years if the impoverished nation gives up its nuclear weapons.

During Sunday's meeting, Lee told the North's envoys about the comprehensive package of economic incentives to be provided to the impoverished nation, according to his office. "Nuclear weapons do not guarantee North Korea's security. They darken its future," Lee was quoted as saying.

The North's envoys also met the South's point man on the North, Unification Minister Hyun In-taek, during their three-day trip to Seoul, which marked the first official contact between the two Koreas since Lee took office in February 2008.

"The two sides in principle agreed on the need for high-level dialogue, but it will take time for such talks to take place as the North still wants to focus on economic issues rather than the nuclear issue," a government official said.

The North has refused to discuss its nuclear issue with the South, claiming the nuclear dispute was caused by the United States' "hostile policy" toward it and could be resolved only bilaterally between Pyongyang and Washington.

Analysts say the North's dispatch of a high-level mission to mourn former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and other friendly gestures are largely aimed at reviving "reconciliation fever" among the South Korean public, which could force the conservative government into a more pliable policy toward the North, including the resumption of much-needed food and economic aid.

"The North seeks to avert U.S.-led pressure by forging a conciliatory mood in relations with the South," said Suh Jae-jean, the president of Seoul's official Korea Institute for National Unification.

Kim Dae-jung, who served as president from 1998-2003, went to the North for the first-ever inter-Korean summit, a historic event that helped Kim win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. He had pushed for cross-border reconciliation under a "Sunshine Policy" of aiding and embracing the North as a way to let the isolated nation "take off its Cold War coat."

Chung Ok-nim, a ruling lawmaker and North Korea expert, said the sharp change in the North's belligerent policy toward the South was prompted by a worsening cash crunch and food shortages following U.N.-imposed sanctions.

earlier related report
North Korea invites US envoy for nuclear talks: reports
Seoul (AFP) Aug 25 - North Korea has invited a US special envoy to visit Pyongyang for talks on ending the standoff about its nuclear weapons programme, South Korean media reports said Tuesday.

Seoul's foreign ministry declined to comment on the reports but such an invitation would be the latest peace overture by the hardline communist state after months of hostility.

JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korean policy, had accepted the invitation and would make the trip next month.

Yonhap news agency, which, like the newspaper, quoted diplomatic sources in Washington, said it was unclear if the US would accept the offer.

JoongAng said Bosworth would be accompanied by Sung Kim, the US point man for six-nation nuclear talks which also group South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

Bosworth's team would probably visit South Korea, China and Japan in early September and then head to Pyongyang where they were likely to meet leader Kim Jong-Il, the paper quoted a source as saying.

The itinerary would preserve Washington's principle that it is willing to hold bilateral talks with Pyongyang but only within the six-nation framework.

JoongAng quoted another source as saying the Obama administration believes the North's recent peacemaking gestures are prompted by an international drive to enforce United Nations sanctions on its nuclear and missile programmes.

"Even if negotiations move forward, the UN sanctions will not be lifted easily," the source said.

The US, it said, would instead give Pyongyang's regime a de facto security assurance by promising it would not intervene in Kim's gradual transfer of power to one of his sons.

The North in March rejected a visit by Bosworth when he travelled to other Asian capitals to try to restart the stalled six-party talks.

Pyongyang in April announced it was quitting the forum in protest at the UN Security Council's censure of its long-range rocket launch earlier that month.

In May the North staged its second nuclear test, incurring tougher sanctions that were even supported by its close ally China.

Its first conciliatory gesture came in early August when it pardoned two American journalists after former US president Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang.

Yonhap said the North conveyed its invitation to Bosworth around that time.

The North also freed a South Korean detainee and said it was willing to restart lucrative tourist trips and family reunions for South Koreans.

Seoul officials said the two sides would hold talks starting Wednesday on resuming the reunion programme, probably during the Korean thanksgiving holiday in early October.

The North also lifted tough restrictions on border crossings, and last weekend sent senior envoys to Seoul for the first talks with conservative President Lee Myung-Bak since he took office.

Kim Jong-Il sent an undisclosed message to Lee through the envoys.

Despite the softer tone, a visiting US official tasked with enforcing sanctions has said they would stay in place.

Philip Goldberg and Seoul officials on Monday reiterated demands that the North commit to full denuclearisation.

The US State Department welcomed the fresh inter-Korean dialogue but stood firm that it wants Pyongyang to negotiate to end its nuclear programme.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News