Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
S.Korea president holds out hope of N.Korea talks
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
S.Korea president holds out hope of N.Korea talks
AFP - Tuesday, January 4
Send
IM Story
Print
SEOUL (AFP) - – South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak Monday reached out to North Korea, saying Seoul was open to talks and offering closer economic ties despite high tensions on the peninsula.
In his New Year policy address, just days after Pyongyang called for improved relations in 2011, Lee also urged the North to abandon its "military adventurism."
Relations between the two Koreas plunged after the North shelled a border island in November, killing four people, including two civilians.
The South has since staged a series of military exercises, including a live-fire drill on December 20 on the island but the North did not follow through with threats of a new and deadlier attack.
Despite the heightened tensions, Lee held out hopes for improved ties, saying the door for talks was "still open".
"If the North exhibits sincerity, we have both the will and the plan to drastically enhance economic cooperation together with the international community," he said.
"The North must come to the realisation that nothing can be gained through military adventurism... Nuclear weapons and military adventurism must be discarded," he added.
The North, in a joint New Year editorial of state media on Saturday, said tensions "should be defused as early as possible," stressing dialogue and cooperation "should be promoted proactively."
"This year we should launch a more determined campaign to improve inter-Korean relations," it said.
Analysts said Lee, in the South's first reponse to the North's New Year message, was telling Pyongyang that Seoul was ready to revive talks, which have been at a standstill for three years.
"This is Seoul's answer to Pyongyang's New Year editorial that it is politically ready to revive talks," said Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.
The North's attack on Yeonpyeong island, the first on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War, drastically heightened tension and sparked a regional crisis.
The South's flurry of military exercises, including one with the United States in the Yellow Sea, drew an angry response from Pyongyang.
World leaders were quick to condemn the November 23 attack, with many calling on China to rein in its unruly ally, something Beijing so far appears unwilling to do.
China instead proposed bringing together the envoys of the long-stalled six-nation disarmament talks on the nuclear-armed North to defuse tension.
But Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have showed a lukewarm response, saying Pyongyang first needs to show sincerity for denuclearisation and to mend ties with the South.
"North Korea is holding the key. What's more important is its sincere attitude," South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Kim Young-Sun said, ahead of US envoy Stephen Bosworth's trip this week to Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo.
Baek said breakthroughs in relations were often made possible by the determination of political leaders, despite very difficult diplomatic circumstances.
"Political leaders' will is often far more important than circumstances in inter-Korea relations," he said, citing the first inter-Korean summit in 2000, which was held a year after a bloody naval clash near the sea border.
That sea battle, also near Yeonpyeong, left dozens of North Korean sailors dead.
"Behind-the-scene preparations for the 2000 summit started only months after the naval clash," Baek said.
But Rodong Sinmun, the North's communist party daily, said Monday that relations would improve only if Seoul ends "dangerous moves for a war".
"If peace is to be ensured on the peninsula, it is imperative to put an end to their reckless moves for confrontation and war, first of all."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Pakistani president vows support for embattled PM Reuters - 1 hour 14 minutes ago
China says it can reprocess spent nuclear fuel AFP - 2 hours 32 minutes ago
Afghan peace delegation heads for Pakistan talks Reuters - 2 hours 48 minutes ago
Australian military rushes supplies to flood zone AFP - Tuesday, January 4
Macau gaming revenue hits record in 2010 AFP - Tuesday, January 4
News Search
Top Stories
EU investigates controversial Hungary tax
Goldman 'values Facebook at $50 billion'
Goldman deal 'values Facebook at $50 billion'
No immediate plans to merge Fiat and Chrysler: CEO
Online travel firm Expedia drops American Airlines
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Falling blackbirds baffle Arkansas officials
Hasta la Vista: Arnie quits as California governor
New smoking laws takes force in Spain
Viking wolves return for first solar eclipse of 2011
Spain lotto winner nearly loses millions by tossing tickets
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 3 January 2011 Egypt holds seven for questioning after church blast
Russia's liberal leader Nemtsov jailed for 15 days: report
Stoning of Iran woman could be quashed: judiciary
iPhone alarm glitch leaves users fuming
Falling blackbirds baffle Arkansas officials
Over 10,000 died in Afghan violence in 2010
Sweden bomber's wife denies knowledge of attack
Iran says shot down two spy planes in Gulf
Spain's bars go smoke-free in tough new law
Major 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Chile
|
iPhone alarm glitch leaves users fuming
Israeli troops kill Palestinian at West Bank checkpoint
|
Russian 'arms dealer' Bout 'rejected plea bargain'
Kremlin critic Nemtsov and two others jailed
|
Iran Guards shoot down two 'Western spy' drones
Pakistan's main government coalition partner quits
"Little Fockers" leads depressed new year box office
Asian ship sets sail with Gaza aid
More than 1,000 birds fall dead from Arkansas sky
'Little Fockers' laughs its way to box office lead
Pakistan government in crisis as coalition partner quits
Spain's bars and restaurants go smoke-free in tough new law
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
China critic and Hong Kong democrat dies at 79
Apple wakes up to iPhone alarm glitch on New Year's
|
"Little Fockers" leads depressed new year box office
Expedia dumps American Airlines listings
|
Cannes-winning Swede Oscarsson feared dead in fire
S.Korea clamps down on illegal whale-hunting
Rock great Chuck Berry falls ill during New Year's show
|
Little Fockers leads depressed new year box office
|
Ethnic discrimination infests Afghan army, soldiers say
US-TECH Summary
Coptics protesting bombing clash with Egypt police
|
Egypt minister pelted, fears of sectarian unrest
Apple wakes up to iPhone alarm glitch on New Year's
Strong 7.1 magnitude quake hits Chile, no injuries
|
Hasta la Vista: Arnie quits as California governor
Refusal to up debt ceiling 'catastrophic': Obama aide
Pakistan PM to meet opposition on political turmoil
|
Winterkorn to remain at Volkswagen helm until end-2016
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo resists African demands he step down
|
Australian floods submerge towns, coal exports hit
|
Australian military flies in flood relief supplies
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
South Korea tells Pyongyang door to dialogue open
|
US Korea envoys head to east Asia
Shine taken off Australia at start of final Ashes Test
Judo deaths alarm Japanese parents
Pakistan's main government coalition partner quits
Australian city of Brisbane braces for flooding
Fockers, True Grit lead soft new year box office
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
Goldman, Digital Sky Technologies invest in Facebook: report
|
CES gadget fest sizzle fizzles
|
Apple's iPhone woes continue as some in Asia sleep in
|
Google exploring digital newsstand: report
|
"Another Year," another Oscar bet for Mike Leigh
Intel woos Hollywood studios with new microchip
|
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
Sales of electronic cigarettes rise, and so does criticism
Qualcomm to build $1 billion panel plant in Taiwan
|
Spanish downturn ends immigrants' dream of better life
iGate cancels briefing; Patni deal was expected
|
Rock great Chuck Berry falls ill at New Year's show
Palestine National Orchestra makes debut in Israel
Spain's bars and restaurants go smoke-free in tough new law
Actor David Arquette in rehab: reports
|
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's lower leg to be amputated
|
Hollywood actresses recount career challenges
|
Fockers, True Grit lead soft new year box office
|
Intel woos Hollywood studios with new microchip
|
Another Year, another Oscar bet for Mike Leigh
|
Recognition for Phil Ochs in powerful documentary
|
News
Iran hangs seven convicted drug smugglers
News
News
Bomb blasts hit Swiss, Chilean embassies in Rome
Police: Bomb kills civilian in west Afghanistan
"30 Rock" Voted Least Ethical TV Show In New Study
Afghan violence in 2010 kills thousands: government
|
Attack on intel service in northeast Iraq wounds 28
|
U.S. renews Mideast peace bid after holiday break
|
Australian military rushes supplies to flood zone
Macau gaming revenue hits record in 2010
Australian floods submerge towns
Policeman shot dead in northeastern Nigeria
|
Australia waste early hard work in final Test
Taking Brazil's helm, Rousseff nods to Wall Street
|
S.Korea president holds out hope of N.Korea talks
Thai teenager who left nine dead to be sent to girls' home
Drunk German arrested for 'killing' Thai motorcyclist
South Korea tells Pyongyang door to dialogue open
Organic farming blooms in Serbia
Actress Zsa Zsa Gabor to have leg amputated: report
Australian cinema roof collapses, injuring 36: police
Actor David Arquette in rehab: reports
S.Korea SK Energy spins off units; renamed as SK Innovation
News
News
POSCO to tap Africa,Siberia,poles for resources-chairman
News
Qualcomm to build $1 billion panel plant in Taiwan
S.Korea won at 6-wk closing high on upbeat data, stock buying
China announces nuclear fuel breakthrough
Nintendo warns children not to play new player in 3D
|
Qualcomm to build $1 bln panel plant in Taiwan
Barnes & Noble says holiday same-store sales up 9.7 percent
|
Pakistani president vows support for embattled PM
Seoul shares set record closing high
China pledges support for troubled Spain economy
Analysis: Space a frontier too far for U.S.-China cooperation
|
Pakistani stocks down on political crisis
Black leaders in Chicago unite behind former senator Braun
100,000 fish dead in Arkansas after thousands of birds drop from sky
"30 Rock" Voted Least Ethical TV Show In New Study
Advocates of 9/11 James Zadroga bill welcome Obama signature
Sleep apnea therapy shown to increase daytime energy
FDA Warns People Away From Deadly Weight-Loss Product
Rock and roll icon Chuck Berry collapses on stage
Schwarzenegger ends term as California governor
Patni deal with iGate, Apax still on-source
iGate-Patni deal still on, delays procedural: source
Goldman deal 'values Facebook at $50 billion'
News
Qualcomm to build $1 bln panel plant in Taiwan
Usual Suspects star Pete Postlethwaite dies
|
Google moving in on Apple's digital newsstand
Google eyes smaller players after Groupon-report
European debt crisis a boon for British blogger
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights