Reuters ("SOUTH KOREA PLAYS DOWN TALK OF NORTH SUMMIT", 2004-08-27) reported that a DPRK-ROK summit could provide a breakthrough in the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, the ROK's prime minister was quoted as saying on Friday, but the government made clear no such meeting was planned for now. There has been no indication that ROK President Roh Moo-hyun is set to meet DPRK leader Kim Jong-il any time soon, although diplomats say there has been speculation about such a summit, possibly in the Russian Far East.
This is inexplicable to me. North Korea's best chance, perhaps its only chance is to get the ROK firmly on its side and then work from there, trying to peel China and then Japan from making common cause with the U.S. And yet, Kim Jong Il apparently will not even entertain the notion of making a reciprocal visit to Seoul. Short-sighted!
