Two Koreas move closer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AFTER nearly five decades of stalemate, North and South Korea are showing the strongest signs in years of moving towards reconciliation. In letters and news reports delivered yesterday, the secretive government of North Korea called for "dialogue and negotiation" and "a relationship of coalition and unity".
"We make clear that we are willing to have dialogue and negotiation with anyone in South Korea, including political parties and organisations," said Kim Yong Sun, a senior North Korean policy-maker, in a report by the official Korean Central News Agency. "The north and the south must promote coexistence, co-prosperity, common interests, mutual collaboration and unity between fellow countrymen."
At the same time, 70 letters carrying a similar message were delivered to the south at the only border crossing point, the village of Panmunjom. They appear to be timed in advance of the inauguration in Seoul next week of Kim Dae Jung, a former dissident, who was elected in December's presidential poll.
The outgoing president, Kim Young Sam, was the object of merciless vituperation by the north which regarded him as an American puppet. "Change of the administration and the President does not automatically open the way [for co-operation], but the key lies on changes in policies," said the North Korean letters, which maintained Pyongyang's insistence that any improvement in relations depends on the departure of American troops from the south.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments