North Korea postpones first inter-Korean talks for 2008

North Korea dragging its feet on talks

Earthtimes.org is reporting that North Korea is going out of its way to delay talks to ramp up previously promised relations with the South Koreans:

• North Korea postponed for undisclosed reasons the first planned cooperation talks with South Korea this year, the South Korean Unification Ministry in Seoul reported Monday. According to the report, the North Koreans said certain things had still to be prepared.
• Both sides were due to meet Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss repairs to a North Korean section of the border-crossing railway, as well as the joint transport of fans by train to support both Korean teams for the summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
• In some South Korean media, it was speculated that the cancellation was connected to the announcement by the team of South Korean president-elect Lee Myung-Bak that some inter-Korean cooperation projects would be reviewed.
• The team in the past week also reported that they want to close the Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean relations, as part of government reorganization.
• Lee, a conservative opposition politician who won a clear victory in December presidential elections, is set to be inaugurated on February 25.
• Lee's election means the end of 10 years of government under liberal presidents who consistently followed reconciliation policies with Communist North Korea.

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Earthtimes.org

North Korea postpones first inter-Korean talks for 2008
By "DPA"

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Our Take

Let us not dismiss this foot dragging as merely political inefficiency at building consensus. Instead it should be treated for what it is – delay tactics. North Korea has learned the art of biding its time. This is no different. How is unification possible when one of the two parties involved is patently insincere? South Korea and the rest of the world need to stay on guard.