It will be very interesting to see how this works out, but it seems that all of Asia is finally making a real push toward co-operation with each other. Which is always good.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak proposed Thursday the creation of the first liaison offices in the capitals of the two Koreas, which are technically in a state of war.
He told the Washington Post newspaper in an interview during his visit to the United States that the proposed offices in Seoul and Pyongyang would act as a permanent communication link.
"When I go back, and this is the first time I am publicly making this recommendation and suggestion: we need ... to open a permanent dialogue channel between the two Koreas," the new South Korean leader told the Post.
"In the past, we had dialogue between the two Koreas when there was a need and then if there wasn't a need, the dialogue would close," Lee said ahead of talks with US President George W. Bush on Friday.
"I don't think that is helpful in the situation," he said.
Unlike his two predecessors, conservative Lee has promised a firmer line on North Korea, linking aid to nuclear disarmament in a move that has angered the hardline communist state.
The North has kicked South Korean officials out of a joint industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong, test-fired missiles and accused Seoul of breaching the country's sea border.
Pyongyang has also threatened to turn its neighbour into "ashes".
But Lee said the two Koreas were in an "adjustment period" after he took over in February, following 10 years of rule in Seoul by liberal presidents who preached engagement.
"Both North and South Korea must change their ways," Lee said. "It is not sufficient for North Korea to resort to their old ways."
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