Asia-Pacific

DPRK, ROK voice possibility of new detente

By Ma Liyao (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-01-04 08:12

BEIJING - The president of the Republic of Korea (ROK) echoed on Monday the goodwill gesture of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), offering closer economic ties, as the United States envoy for the DPRK is leaving for East Asia to discuss how to reduce tensions on the peninsula.

The speech came shortly after the DPRK's leading newspaper called the second time in three days for improving relations with the ROK through dialogue.

Lee Myung-bak said in a New Year address televised nationwide that he was open to dialogue with Pyongyang, repeating a warning that Pyongyang will be dealt a "stern and strong" blow if it chooses to mount another attack.

"I remind the North that the path to peace is still open. The door for dialogue is still open," Lee said. But he warned: "We cannot let North Korea covet even an inch of our territory ... Any provocation that would pose a threat to our lives and property will not be tolerated."

Rodong Sinmun, the DPRK's biggest state-run newspaper, said in several articles published on Monday that the new decade should be a period of hope for ending the tragedy of division and achieving unification and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula.

Both sides should make the dialogue practical, and bring a bright future to the Korean Peninsula, the articles noted, saying that the ROK authorities should give up the notion of regarding their fellow men as "enemies" - and make greater efforts to create an atmosphere of dialogue and cooperation.

The recent tensions on the peninsula were caused by the confrontational policy of the ROK, and if it continued its policies, the bilateral relations would not be improved and national security and peaceful unification would not be achieved, the articles said.

The articles reaffirmed what some see as the DPRK's commitment to achieving reconciliation between the two sides, improving bilateral relations and paving the road toward the independent unification of the Korean Peninsula.

On the first day of 2011, the newspaper said that the DPRK wishes for an improvement of relations with the ROK, while urging the ROK authorities to stop their confrontations with the DPRK.

Both countries have recently signaled goodwill for talks after a year of confrontation - including the sinking of an ROK warship in March that killed 46 sailors, a deadly exchange of artillery fire in November, and threats of war that have ratcheted up the world's nerves.

Du Ping, a commentator for Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, said that the "goodwill" expression was "too good to believe".

"Tensions have brought huge troubles and threats to the regional peace," Du said. "To show their sincerity, both sides should prove in practical actions."

Baek Seung-joo of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses said this is the first time after the DPRK's New Year message that the ROK has told Pyongyang that Seoul was politically ready to revive the long-stalled talks.

Washington is sending its envoy Stephen Bosworth, responsible for United States policy toward the DPRK, to visit the ROK, China and Japan to discuss the next steps on the peninsula, the US State Department has said.

Bosworth will arrive in Seoul on Tuesday, travel to Beijing on Wednesday and continue to Tokyo on Thursday. The US envoy for nuclear talks with the DPRK, Sung Kim, will accompany him to Seoul and Beijing.

"In all three cities, he will meet with senior government officials to discuss next steps on the Korean Peninsula," the US State Department said in a statement.

Bosworth's visit to the region could mark a turning point in efforts to restart the Six-Party Talks that will be highlighted by President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington this month, Baek said.

Agencies contributed to this story.