Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

Lee Calls for �New Spirit� in Dealings With N.Korea

"The ministry said it would not demand, as Japan does, that the North admit its abduction of South Koreans and repatriate them unconditionally. A ministry official said, "We're considering ways to establish a backdoor dialogue channel between the two Koreas in light of the pressure the North might feel if we push for open dialogue."

In a press briefing afterwards, Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho said, "We are going to give top priority to resolving this issue from the standpoint that protection of our people (POWs and abducted civilians) is the basic duty of the government."

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200803/200803270013.html

I don't know if this should be called 'pragmatic' or just plain common sense, but it looks like 'we' now have a foreign policy that makes sense. This aspect of the new president is one that I think most of us can agree is several steps up from the last policy. And it could even has a chance to be successful.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The response of the North hasn't been too positive, though.

North Korea orders Seoul officials out of Kaesong
Pyongyang angered by Lee��s tough new policies

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2887959