Merkel's offer a ray of hope

Today even the most sanguine geopolitical analyst would have to concede the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis has reached the most critical, if not the most dangerous, stage. Despite years of international efforts to put a brake on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's ambitious nuclear program - through the Six-Party Talks or the many rounds of sanctions imposed by the United Nations and some countries - the country's nuclear and missile program seems close to completion.

Given these facts, new ideas and the involvement of new parties are needed to resolve the Korean Peninsula crisis.

It is thus welcome news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is ready to play a diplomatic mediator's role to help break the peninsula deadlock. In an interview with a German newspaper, published on Sunday, Merkel said: "If our participation in talks is wanted, I will say yes immediately." Merkel referred to the negotiations that led to Iran curtailing its nuclear program as a "possible format" for resolving the DPRK nuclear issue.