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Electric Monk

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2. South and North Korea Agree to New Talks - NYT

Reply to Warren Stupidity (Original post)

Sat Oct 4, 2014, 10:56 PM

Oct 2014

(snip)

...a breakthrough appeared to come on Saturday, when top South Korean policy makers met with a North Korean delegation visiting Incheon for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games, a surprise visit that South Korea announced just an hour before the officials’ arrival. The delegation included three of the most trusted aides of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.

During the meeting on Saturday, the two sides agreed to resume a formal dialogue later this month or in early November, the South’s Ministry of Unification said in a statement. “While calling the upcoming talks a second round of dialogue, the North explained that it intended to hold more rounds of South-North talks in the future,” the statement said.

The mention of a “second round” appeared to refer to the last time officials met to discuss the family reunions, in February. Soon after that meeting, hundreds of aging Koreans from both sides were allowed to hold emotional family reunions at a North Korean resort. No further reunions have been held since then.

The North Korean delegation’s visit and the agreement to resume talks were all the more unexpected, given the North’s recent vitriol toward the South Korean president, Park Geun-hye. On Thursday, the North called Ms. Park “a rabid dog” after she vowed that pressing the North to end human rights abuses would be a key goal of her government.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/world/asia/south-and-north-korea-agree-to-resume-high-level-talks.html

LBN thread on this http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014910891

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Prediction: Korean re-unification will happen soon, and suddenly. [View all] Warren Stupidity Oct 2014 OP

If so, that will eliminate (South) Korea as a major economy. DavidDvorkin Oct 2014 #1

Yes, even if unification is peaceful JimDandy Oct 2014 #3

not just SK, but the US , Europe, Japan and other places should help also JI7 Oct 2014 #14

It would be a massive strain, to be sure. TwilightGardener Oct 2014 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author amandabeech Oct 2014 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #7

there will be some down times but there are also lessons learned JI7 Oct 2014 #13

It will be bumoy, but Koreans will be ok. AngryAmish Oct 2014 #25

Germany struggled when they had to absorb the impoverished state of tblue37 Oct 2014 #32

Think of the infrastructure opportunities, though. randome Oct 2014 #19

That's the problem DavidDvorkin Oct 2014 #21

I can't say I paid that much attention to the problems Germany faced so perhaps you're right. randome Oct 2014 #22

Good point. East Germany was 1/4 the population of West. North Korea is 1/2 the size of South. pampango Oct 2014 #36

because germany fizzled away after reunification? unblock Oct 2014 #27

Of course not. However, DavidDvorkin Oct 2014 #30

it works the same way. if korea is reunified with a more or less normal system, unblock Oct 2014 #46

South and North Korea Agree to New Talks - NYT Electric Monk Oct 2014 #2

I predict you are wrong. BillZBubb Oct 2014 #5

The wheels ALWAYS turn slowly. But when the moment is reached, it will SEEM sudden. randome Oct 2014 #18

like honey off a spoon. It's viscosity means it moves so very slowly until it finally reaches KittyWampus Oct 2014 #28

Like the sudden collapse of the Berlin Wall, which only *looked* as though it happened all tblue37 Oct 2014 #33

Good points, tblue37 and KittyWampus! randome Oct 2014 #41

Take all the problems that there were in reuniting East and West Germany... Silent3 Oct 2014 #6

Possibly like Germany. hunter Oct 2014 #8

I worked in South Korea briefly oldandhappy Oct 2014 #9

Agreed davidpdx Oct 2014 #12

Thank you. I read your post. Appreciate your comments. oldandhappy Oct 2014 #17

Could it be done with international help? You at least have some knowledge of the situation. jwirr Oct 2014 #23

Read answer #11. That person has more current information. oldandhappy Oct 2014 #39

Wow that is what I was afraid of. If this sister is any different than the rest of the family maybe jwirr Oct 2014 #47

I do think the *huge* NK army will be part of what makes reunification so tblue37 Oct 2014 #35

I think Americans will be in favor of offering help. But will Conservatives? randome Oct 2014 #42

I agree and post similar this morning. CK_John Oct 2014 #10

I have lived in South Korea for the past decade, so I'd like to think I know what's going on davidpdx Oct 2014 #11

a Question - have them been apart so long that relatives don't miss their others in the north? hollysmom Oct 2014 #15

Good question davidpdx Oct 2014 #16

Thanks hollysmom Oct 2014 #24

I hope so. The ordinary people of North Korea are in real economic trouble and that would make it jwirr Oct 2014 #20

It'll be amazing to witness North Koreans seeing the 21st century for the first time. nt valerief Oct 2014 #26

A hell of a lot of stories are waiting to be told. randome Oct 2014 #43

no edhopper Oct 2014 #29

I should think that the first step would be for the NK gov't to make Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #31

Unlikely. Warren Stupidity Oct 2014 #40

I have no handle whatsoever on internal NK politics. Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #48

The question is, who will be behind it? KamaAina Oct 2014 #34

From what I've read here customerserviceguy Oct 2014 #37

If it leads to dismantlement of NK's nukes, no cost should be spared, IMO. closeupready Oct 2014 #38

Kim Jong will have to go into hiding once north koreans see JaneyVee Oct 2014 #45