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N. Korea — a new approach?

SEOUL: North Korea refrained from issuing its usual blistering New Year’s Day diatribe against the U.S. and reaffirmed commitment to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula — hints that it is softening its stance toward Washington, analysts said on Thursday.

The January 1 statement, examined for clues to the regime’s policies for the coming year, made no mention of President-elect Barack Obama. But analysts said the absence of anti-U.S. rhetoric may well be the North’s opening overture for talks with Mr. Obama.

“North Korea didn’t issue insults for the U.S. in this year’s editorial. That showed North Korea’s expectations for the Obama government,” said Paik Hak-soon, an analyst with the private Sejong Institute security think tank.

Instead, the joint editorial run by North Korea’s three main state-run newspapers reserved its criticism for wartime rival South Korea, lambasting its“reckless” bid to destroy inter-Korean relations and vowing to strengthen its military — already one of the world’s largest — in response. The change in North Korea’s tone comes amid uncertainty about its 66-year-old leader’s health, a protracted international standoff over its nuclear programme and deepening economic woes. — AP

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N. Korea — a new approach?

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