Cossa, Ralph A

Introduction
In the past year, the security environment on the Korean peninsula has gone from a seemingly hopeless stalemate to a situation with the best real promise of peace and stability since the end of the Korean War. Since the unprecedented June 2000 summit meeting in Pyongyang between ROK President Kim Dae-Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-U, there has been a steady stream of dialogue and interactions. These interactions include the equally unprecedented meeting of both nations’ defense ministers in South Korea in September 2000, as well as three highly-emotional exchange visits of families separated since the 1950-53 Korean War.
In addition, Kim Jong-Il has made two trips to China in the past twelve months, one just before his historic summit with Kim Dae-Jung, and the other in mid-January of this year. The so-called “Dear Leader’s” praise for China’s modernization efforts – “socialism with Chinese characteristics” – has raised hopes that Pyongyang is intent on genuine economic reform as it opens up more to the South and the world at large.
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