ABSTRACT
Sincetheratificationin1992oftheAgreementonReconciliation, Nonaggression,andExchangesandCooperationbetweentheSouth andtheNorth,officialrelationsbetweenthetwoKoreashavenotmade significantprogress,dueprimarilytoPyongyang'sintransigentand self-righteousstancetowardtheSeoulgovernment.Thelatter'sofferof anolivebranchandgoodwill,suchashumanitarianassistanceinthe formoffood,hasbeenrebuffedbyPyongyang,whichrefusestodeal withtheSeoulgovernmentasanequalpartner.Sincetheinceptionof theSeoulgovernment's"SunshinePolicy"towardtheNorth,however, twoseparatepreliminaryroundsoftalkshavebeenheldinBeijingin hopesofresuminghigh-levelpoliticalmeetingsbetweenSeouland Pyongyang.Unfortunately,theydidnotsucceedduetoPyongyang's demand-attheJune1999meeting-thattheSouthapologizeforthe sinkingofaNorthKoreanpatrolboatandthelossofseventeencrew membersinanavalclashintheYellowSeaonJune15.Itishopedthat futurepreliminarymeetingswilleventuallyleadtomutuallybeneficial outcomes,suchastheofferoffertilizerdeliverybySeoulinexchange forPyongyang'sagreeingtohelpexpeditethesearchformissingfamilymembersacrosstheDemilitarizedZone(DMZ)onhumanitarian grounds.
