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Published on August 14, 2007

After a lapse of seven years, the leaders of North and South Korea are set to talk again. The summit meeting planned for later this month in Pyongyang has raised fresh hopes for peace on the Korean Peninsula and possible future reconciliation between the two fractious nations who are still technically at war. Coming as it does now, the meeting shows that both outgoing South Korean president Roh Moo Hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il realise that it takes two to tango. Their meeting may even create a long-lasting legacy. For South Korea, the summit meeting will also provide a respite from the ongoing hostage crisis in Afghanistan. The whole country has been caught up in this crisis, for many a dilemma in the overall conflict that the country did not create.

Each day, the South Korean mass media has followed the hostage episode intensely. Reports come through hour to hour on progress made, or the lack of it. Families of the hostages and the public are frustrated by the seeming inability of their government to negotiate the hostages' release. Their Taleban captors demand the release of all prisoners held by the American-backed government in Kabul. So far, Washington has stressed its no-negotiation policy for hostage crises.

South Korean-US ties are at a low ebb at this juncture. As the frustration of the South Korean public increases, so too does the level of animosity. But with the US presidential election on the way, President George W Bush has other priorities. It is not surprising that Roh seeks to increase engagement with North Korea unilaterally, especially regarding the strengthening of economic cooperation across the border. Roh will leave office by the end of this year and he wants to make sure that the bilateral Korean talks will proceed without a hitch. Washington wishes to see both Koreas working on the outcome of the six party-talks, with strong adherence to the agreed frameworks.

North Korea's latest display of flexibility and compliance with the international community's demands for it to dismantle its nuclear facilities has laid the groundwork for Roh's visit. It could even lead to improvement in relations with the outside world. In recent years, tensions between North and South Korea have been high, with frequent test firing of missiles from the North. But pressure from the international community, led by members of the six-party talks, has had a positive impact. Sanctions imposed by the UN and tighter financial measures did have an impact on Pyongyang's decision to soften and subsequently halt its nuclear ambitions.

The stakes are high for Roh. Like his predecessor, Kim Dae Jung, he wants to be remembered as a leader who brought peace and stability to the peninsula. Moreover, he wants to go beyond what Kim has accomplished by bringing North Korea into the fold, helping its economic development and further engaging it. These are noble goals but they are not easy to attain. Pyongyang wants to take advantage of Roh by asking for more economic packages.

The easing of tensions has also created a positive atmosphere at the regional level, especially at the 14-year old Asean Regional Forum. The only region-wide security forum has discussed the Korean Peninsula for years but little progress has been made. Given the current momentum, North Korea's active participation would be a boon. Since it joined the ARF, Pyongyang has been lacklustre in attendance. The lack of mutual trust has been the main reason.

Closer to home, North-South detente and brightening reconciliation hopes would be beneficial to Thailand. A stable North Korea, posing no threat to anyone, would be able to boost its economic progress. In the past few years, Thailand has become one of the largest transit countries for North Korean refugees, who have fled their country for both economic and political reasons. Their journey south along the border areas is often dangerous. Many end up in Thailand's northern provinces. So far, neighbouring countries have not been willing to accept them. Local authorities have expressed concern that without sufficient financial and personnel resources it will be difficult to monitor any more incoming refugees because of the porous borders.

There are several dimensions to the Korean talks. Therefore both Korean leaders must take a holistic view and work towards broader peace and stability in the region.