Moon's offer of talks brings hope of an end to impasse

It remains to be seen how Pyongyang will respond to Seoul's formal overture for dialogue. Serious talks, whether on easing animosities along their tense border or on resuming the reunions of families separated by the Korean War in the early 1950s, as Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in proposed on Monday, are long overdue given the antagonism that has escalated and accumulated over the years.

The worsening state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula has brooded a mood of pessimism, so the new ROK leader's professed willingness to engage Pyongyang offers some cause for optimism, albeit slight, since none of similar past overtures for dialogue, even handshakes, produced any meaningful headway in relations.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be aware that Moon, while extending an olive branch, has never promised to adopt a carrot-only approach. On the contrary, he has openly stated Seoul will continue to apply pressure so that Pyongyang will rethink its pursuit of nuclear and missile capabilities.