I’m sure many of you have heard about North Korea wanting to have talks again:

Stephen Bosworth

After a 2010 that saw the Korean peninsula edge towards the brink of nuclear Armageddon, 2011 is starting on, at least what sounds, like a far more peaceful note.

In its New Year’s message, North Korea’s state media mouthpiece talked about “dialogue” and “cooperation” with the South.

On Monday South Korean President Lee said his country might be open to talks with Pyongyang.

And today, upon his arrival in Seoul, US special envoy Stephen Bosworth called for “serious negotiations,” between all parties.

All of this follows North Korea’s apparent deadly attack on the South Korean frigate Cheonan last March, it’s brazen show of military muscle and nuclear know-how in the Fall, and then the North’s artillery assault on civilians on the South’s Yeonpyeong Island.

“Literally with a ‘shot across the bow,’” London-based Korea analyst Kerry Brown told Fox News, “North Korea appears to have achieved what they wanted.”
[Fox News Blog]

This is all following the typical patterns as before: North Korea acts belligerent, then is willing to have talks to calm down the tensions they created, talks eventually happen where North Korea demands concessions for promises they have no intention of keeping, sometime goes by with everyone claiming peace in our time is at hand while turning a blind eye to North Korea’s breaking of promises until someone calls them on it, usually the next political administration in office.  When that happens the cycle just repeats itself.

I have been warning since his hiring to watch out for Stephen Bosworth who has a track record of wanting to appease the North Koreans.  It appears he will have his chance as reports indicate that the Obama administration is pressuring South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to participate in these which as we all know will go no where.  I think the North Koreans have realized that they won’t be able to get a bunch of free goodies from Lee Myung-bak so I wouldn’t be surprised if the North Koreans use these talks to instead undercut Lee Myung-bak and try to blame him for everything that has happened in hopes of getting another appeaser-in-chief like former President Roh Moo-hyun elected in 2012.  Despite all the talk of the collapse of the North Korean regime it will not collapse by 2012 and if by then they can manufacture another Mad Cow Scare Crisis like they did in 2008 combined with blaming the conservatives for the current tensions that may help them get the useful idiot they want elected (maybe Chung Dong-young) to the South Korean presidency.

I think the North Korean regime clearly know that if another conservative gets elected (maybe Park Geun-hye?) that won’t give them aid with no strings attached than regime collapse may be something they would have to consider especially if further outside pressure is put on the regime.