By Is this further evidence that the North Korean regime is getting desperate for cash?:
North Korea has proposed to the South that it may repatriate some South Korean prisoners of war and civilian abductees in exchange for a prompt resumption of inter-Korean economic projects, Seoul sources said yesterday.
The North made the proposals through secret contacts with South Korean in an effort to mend the sore inter-Korean ties, the sources privy to North Korean issues said on condition of anonymity.
The North is considering returning some South Korean war prisoners or civilian captives to the South through the border village of Panmunjeom or deporting them to a third country such as China, according to the sources.
In return, North Korea suggests South Korea cooperate on a raft of inter-Korean economic projects such as the construction of a steel mill in Musan, a petrochemical industry park in the Najin-Sunbong area, food plants, a housing complex in Pyongyang and a road between Pyongyang and Shinuiju.
In particular, the North has expressed hope for the South’s participation in the Pyongyang housing project, which is spearheaded by Jang Song-taek, brother-in-law of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, sources said. Jang, who has reportedly emerged as the most powerful figure in the North, has pushed for building 100,000 houses in the North’s capital city.
Seoul sees the North’s proposal as a step forward, sources said. It has begun work to identify details of the proposal, they said. [Korea Herald]
If the Lee Myung-bak administration is able to get the return of these POW’s this would mean that Lee’s North Korea policies would have accomplished more in less then one year then the prior Roh Moo-hyun administration did in five years. Despite all of North Korea’s brinkmanship they are now forced to cut a deal to get the cash they need since the six party talks collapsed and the Lee administration is not budging from its policy of aid in return for progress in inter-Korean relations.
The return of the POW’s would be a huge concession from the North Koreans.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
1:39 pm on December 22nd, 2008 1
Good news. Especially as to who seems to be gaining the upper hand. very positive.
3:40 pm on December 22nd, 2008 2
I have to think this is a big sign the regime is in a bad way – and I'm talking about the narrow inner circle regime – not just the whole nation.
4:42 pm on December 22nd, 2008 3
Naahhh…just a bunch of typical nK bullshite. Dangling the bait in front of LMB to see if they can make him look like a fool for taking it. Ignore them and pull out the remaining SK assets to increase their pain.
5:06 pm on December 22nd, 2008 4
This has nothing to do with either 2MB's or R(N)MH's policies on the north. This has everything to do with the DPRK going further up the creek as time goes by. R(N)MH would have paid out the nose if the offer had been made during his tenure. But it wasn't.