By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
After decades of blackmail and derogatory statements from North Korea, the South Korean government is puzzled over Pyongyang's perceived reconciliatory and soft approach.
It began with the North's new year address that appeared in the Rodong Newspaper.
Unlike in previous years, negative comments toward South Korea or the United States were nowhere to be found.
Instead, it said, "Coming to terms with the United States is fundamental to guarantee peace on the Korean peninsula," and "There is no doubt that we want to improve relations with South Korea."
This week, the secretive state also proposed talks on a peace treaty, which was followed by a second proposal to hold talks on resuming tours to Mt. Geumgang resort and the city of Gaeseong, an ancient capital of the country. All of the news happened within the span of a week.
The suggestion for the meeting was for Jan. 26 and 27.
The conservative Lee Myung-bak administration seems to welcome the change in attitude yet is cautious in making immediate and visible responses.
North Korea watchers here said that the seemingly soft approach is making many people in the South scratch their heads.
Although the South is welcoming the gestures, experts claim that complying and giving economic incentives does not guarantee political reconciliation.
North Korea has shown over the years that it wants to deal exclusively with the United States on nuclear negotiations, and sees South Korea merely as an aid donor and economic partner. This is not what the South wants.
As of now, it appears that Seoul will take time to review the proposal before agreeing to resume the tours.
Yonhap quoted a Seoul official Friday as saying, "The incumbent administration will take time to digest the North's proposal and to analyze their intentions."
The gesture, however, is likely to benefit the South's clandestine attempt for a summit between leaders of the two Koreas.
Diplomatic sources said that South Korea has initiated unofficial talks with the North for a summit between President Lee and Kim Jong-il.
North Korea benefited a lot from the South's engagement policy during the former Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung administrations.
Tours to Mt. Geumgang and Gaeseong and the operation of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex have helped Pyongyang acquire hard currency.
Following Lee's inauguration, however, political tensions escalated, resulting in the suspension of major inter-Korean cooperation projects, including the tour to Mt. Geumgang.
It is said that the North has been suffering immensely from the suspended projects. Late last year, North Korea expressed their intention to restart inter-Korean projects.
Last month, a team comprised of officials from both countries went on a joint inspection tour of industrial complexes in China and Vietnam. An assessment meeting will take place next Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Unification.
When Hyun Jung-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group, visited North Korea last summer, Kim agreed to restart the tour program.
skim@koreatimes.co.kr
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