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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year‘s address in Pyongyang, Friday. This image was captured from a broadcast shown on Korean Central Television. / Yonhap |
By Kim Hyo-jin
North Korea is expected to maintain a conciliatory stance toward South Korea this year, and keep inter-Korean talks alive, analysts said, Sunday.
On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said during his televised New Year's speech that he is "open to talks with anyone" wishing for peace and unification without mentioning the repressive state's nuclear weapons program.
"The North Korean leader showed his willingness to continue inter-Korean talks in his New Year's speech. He expressed hopes to maintain the conciliatory mood made after the Aug. 25 deal," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.
The inter-Korean deal requires the two Koreas to defuse tensions along the border after the North's "landmine attack" on Aug. 4 that seriously injured two South Korean soldiers.
Dismissing concerns about Kim's denouncing tone directed toward the South in the speech, Yang Moo-jin, a professor of the University of North Korean Studies, said that Pyongyang will seek to stabilize relations with the South ahead of a congress of ruling Workers' Party Congress slated for May.
"North Korea won't risk raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula ahead of its historic event. By improving ties to the South, it will try to create favorable environment," Yang said.
There is the possibility that Kim will make a further conciliatory step, and suggest an inter-Korean summit, he added.
"If the new unification policy is presented in the congress, it could even lead to Kim's proposal for a summit with President Park Geun-hye," Yang said.
At the same time, Kim called on Seoul to honor the Aug. 25 deal, urging it to refrain from carrying out acts that could damage relations between the two nations.
"South Korea should cherish the spirit of last year's high-level talks and make continued efforts to seek dialogue and not take any further steps backwards," he said, blaming Seoul for increasing mistrust and conflict last year by making a unilateral move for unification.
The remarks came weeks after inter-Korean high-level talks ended in mid-December with no progress made. The two sides hit a snag due to their differing views on the resumption of Mount Geumgang tour program that was a cash cow for the impoverished North.
In response, the South's foreign ministry also said that it is open to dialogue between the two Koreas, adding that it hopes for peaceful unification.
"Our position toward inter-Korean talks and peaceful unification is firm," a government official said. "We urge North Korea to take note of our efforts in improving inter-Korean relations and laying the groundwork for peaceful unification."
Instead of commenting on the North's nuclear program, Kim stressed his plan to improve its economy and the living standards of North Korean people.
"This reflects Kim's consideration of North's ties to China and intention not to aggravate the current situation where international sanctions were imposed on the North," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University.
"He is certainly acknowledging that provoking the world with comments on the nuclear program is not helping to develop the nation's moribund economy."
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