While the North Koreans are trotting out their useful idiots in the US to set conditions for their eventual payoff, they are simultaneously using the death of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to help set conditions for their eventual payoff from the South Korean government as well:

Tens of thousands of mourners filled the lawn outside parliament for the state funeral Sunday of ex-President Kim Dae-jung, a longtime defender of democracy and advocate of reconciliation who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach out to communist North Korea.

The man who made history by holding a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 also managed to bring the two Koreas together with his death Tuesday at age 85.

A North Korean delegation dispatched to Seoul to mourn him held talks Sunday with South Korea’s president, relaying a message from Kim Jong Il during the first high-level contact between the rival nations after many months of tension.

(…..)

Relations have been tense since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in February 2008, abandoning the Sunshine Policy and insisting that North Korea must prove its commitment to international nuclear disarmament pacts before it can expect aid.

Pyongyang, in response, ditched the reconciliation talks and most of the inter-Korean projects. The North also has been locked in an international standoff with the U.S. and other nations over its atomic ambitions after launching a rocket, test-firing missiles and conducting an underground nuclear test earlier this year.

However, there have been signs the tensions may be easing. After welcoming former President Bill Clinton during his mission to secure the release of two jailed American reporters, the North freed a South Korean citizen held for four months. It also said it would allow some joint projects to resume.

Kim Dae-jung‘s death prompted condolences from Kim Jong Il, who authorized a high-level delegation of six to pay their respects — the first time the North has sent officials to mourn a former South Korean president.

Led by senior Workers’ Party official Kim Ki Nam and spy chief Kim Yang Gon, the delegation went straight to the National Assembly mourning site Friday. Dressed in black, they left a wreath on behalf of Kim Jong Il, bowed before Kim’s portrait and lighted incense, with red badges depicting Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s late founder, pinned to their suits.

Extending their trip by a day, three North Korean officials met Sunday with Lee for a half hour, relaying Kim Jong Il’s thoughts on “progress on inter-Korean cooperation,” Seoul presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.

The South Korean president then detailed his government’s “consistent and firm” policy on North Korea and reiterated the need for “sincere” dialogue between the two Koreas, the spokesman said, calling the talks “serious and amicable.”  [Associated Press]

If you read the whole article you will see that the AP writer Jean H. Lee makes Lee Myung-bak out as the bad guy for canceling the Sunshine Policy until North Korea begins to reciprocate.  This is a pattern that is going to continue in the media and with North Korea apologists.  If you remember when the former US President George Bush canceled the Agreed Framework that Bill Clinton signed with North Korea because of North Korea’s cheating on the agreement with their secret high enriched uranium program, he was greatly criticized as well.

The North increased tensions just like they have been doing these passed few months with missile and nuclear tests and the Bush administration finally caved in to a North Korean charm offensive like what is going on now.  The North Koreans than got tens of millions of dollars in concessions while giving little to nothing in return.  Anybody else seeing the repeat in the pattern here as well?

I have always said the North Koreans are going to return to negotiations once they have conducted more tests on their missile and nuclear programs in order to better perfect their technology to give them better bargaining position.  Now it looks like its the time they feel comfortable to start negotiating again.  What has yet to be determined is on who’s terms will the negotations take place?  This is what Lee and President Obama need to hold firm on.