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South Korea's rival political parties on Thursday hailed the New Year's address made by Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), who said there is no reason not to hold the "highest-level" inter- Korean talks.
Kim Young-woo, spokesman of the ruling Saenuri Party, said in a commentary that it is meaningful for the top DPRK leader to show a "principled but somewhat positive" response to South Korea's dialogue offer.
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy more actively expressed its welcome to Kim's address. Spokesman Kim Seong-soo said that the party "hails" the New Year speech opening the door for inter-Korean summit and actively participating in other South-North talks.
Top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's message that "If South Korean authorities sincerely want to improve North-South relations through talks, stalled high-level contacts can be resumed and other talks can be held issue by issue."
"If the atmosphere and environment is created, there is no reason not to hold the highest-level talks (with South Korea)," Kim said.
It was the first time since Kim took power in December 2011 that the top DPRK leader commented on the inter-Korean summit.
DIALOGUE OFFER
Seoul's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said that Pyongyang showed more detailed positions this year on inter-Korean relations through the New Year's address compared with last year, noting that there is no change in South Korea's stance that dialogue and cooperation should persist for enhanced inter-Korean ties and peaceful reunification on the Korean Peninsula.
"If North Korea (DPRK) sincerely wants to improve South-North relations through talks, we hope that (the DPRK) rapidly respond to dialogue offer we suggested," the ministry said in a statement.
South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae offered Monday to hold high-level talks with the DPRK in January. The latest round of senior-level contact was held in February 2014 and led to the reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
Pyongyang agreed to Seoul's proposal for senior-level talks in October when three top-level DPRK officials made a surprise visit to South Korea for the closing ceremony of Incheon Asian Games.
The talks were not held after the two sides exchanged fire along the border after conservative South Korean civic groups floated anti-DPRK leaflets across the border via hot air balloons.
The DPRK expressed strong opposition to it, but South Korea said it has no legal ground to ban such activity for "freedom of expression."
EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE
Kim Jong Un's comment on inter-Korean summit showed Kim's " confidence" in his grip on power, Kim Geun-shik, a professor at Kyungnam University, said in a televised interview with local broadcaster YTN. "It is very unusual for top leader to comment on inter-Korean summit (in the DPRK)," said the professor.
The professor said the top DPRK leader seemed to be more confident in his regime's stability after the end of the three- year official mourning period for Kim Jong Il, former DPRK leader and father of Kim Jong Un.
The DPRK's political stability was ensured after purges of officials, including Jang Song Thaek in December 2013, and its economy appeared to show a positive growth, the professor said, noting that improved inter-Korean ties could be a starting point for stability in external relations.
Cheong Seong Chang, a senior analyst at the private Ejong Institute, said by phone that a broad range of political decision can be made between the two Koreas through summit talks, urging President Park Geun-hye to propose a summit with Kim Jong Un within this year.
President Park vowed Wednesday to build an "actual and detailed " foundation and open a way for reunification with the DPRK in 2015. Park is scheduled to make her New Year's address on Friday.
South Korea proposed to hold another round of reunion event for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War before the Lunar New Year's holiday comes in late February.
The country said it can talk with the Pyongyang about "all" issues of mutual concern, including the lifting of the May 24 sanctions and the resumption of tour to Mount Kumgang that the DPRK has demanded.
South Korea imposed the May 24 sanctions in 2010 after its Navy corvette Cheonan sank in waters near the disputed western sea border. The sanctions have banned all inter-Korean exchanges except for the joint factory park in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong. Enditem
