North, South Korea agree to hold talks

North and South Koreans are meeting “to seek ways to move forward together as a people while overcoming the grave situation which has divided them.”

A group called the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland sought dialogue between Pyongyang and Seoul, influencing North Korea to make the first contact with its southern neighbor.

South Koreans have accepted the invitation and are expected to meet their Northern counterparts on February 11th.

The initial meeting is designed to set the time and agenda for high-level military dialogue between the two Asian countries.

Tensions between the North and South escalated when on November 23rd a South Korean island was bombed, killing four people, including two civilians.

Last March, Seoul accused Pyongyang of torpedoing a warship, killing 46 people on board, a charge which the North denies.

South Korea set a precondition for any high-level meeting in that North Korea would need to take “responsible measures” over last year’s attack and vow not to repeat them.

US and Japan have expressed their interest in the talks with hopes of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, and later broadening multi-nation dialogue toward economic prosperity in the region.

“We’ve always stressed the importance of North-South dialogue as the necessary beginning of this process. So, I hope that the North takes advantage of this opportunity and demonstrates its sincerity,” US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara also pointed out that it is vital for the Seoul and Pyongyang to enter the dialogue.

“I believe that what is most important is that the North-South dialogue be opened up and also that in the tri-partite foreign ministers’ meeting with regard to the 6-party talks and that the Chinese have been calling for, we would not reject that,” Maehara said.