Great aspirations: Inter-Korea relations going forward

J Berkshire Miller, aljazeera.com

The future of the Korean Peninsula remains opaquer than the ebullience displayed at last month's inter-Korea summit.

Image from article, with caption: Last month, Kim Jong-un became the first North Korean leader to visit South Korea since the 1953 armistice between the two countries

Excerpt:

[D]espite ... significant developments over the past few months, it is important to remain cautious about the limits of any inter-Korean rapprochement. In sum: we have been here before.

The key difference now is new leadership. Kim Jong-un is now officially on his public diplomacy [JB emphasis]  tour - with successful summits in China and South Korea, in advance his important upcoming meeting with Trump. Kim has also outlined the importance of economic growth for North Korea, as outlined in his Byungjin policy line, which prioritises a parallel track of nuclear weapons development alongside economic development. Meanwhile, Moon has re-energised "pro-engagement" policies after years of conservative rule in South Korea that favoured a tougher approach to North Korea. ...