Talks better than giving each other cold shoulder

The decision of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to reopen a communication channel has sent a long-awaited encouraging signal that talks can be resumed and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula restored. After two years' long resistance and feisty rhetoric, inter-Korean relations seem to be returning to the right track.

Since the suspension of the Pyongyang-Seoul hotline in February 2016, the DPRK has conducted several nuclear and ballistic missile tests, while the ROK has held large-scale military exercises with the United States.

However, the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-un saying he is willing to send a DPRK team to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Pyeongchang in the ROK, and Seoul's immediate and positive response have raised hopes that DPRK-ROK ties are on the mend.

The positive move means the two sides are willing to seize the opportunity offered by the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to ease tensions and hostility. It is clear that the two sides are willing to hold talks, but they need to think rationally, act prudently and prevent external interference to take the current momentum forward.

More concrete efforts are needed to deepen mutual trust, in order to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue through diplomatic and political means.

In this context, the "dual-suspension" proposal of China - the DPRK suspending its nuclear and missile tests in exchange for the ROK and US suspending their large-scale military drills - is a reasonable, fair and viable way of resuming the peace talks.

The DPRK should also abide by relevant United Nations resolutions, and neither Pyongyang nor Seoul and Washington should insist on the other side taking the first step, if they want to end the vicious circle of escalating tensions and war threat on the Korean Peninsula. Instead, all sides concerned should make concerted efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks.

It is important to end provocations in order to create a positive atmosphere on the peninsula for reconciliation. Sanctions should therefore not be the goal but used only as a stop-gap measure to bring the DPRK back to the negotiation table.

The Korean Peninsula issue is complex and cannot be resolved overnight. However, resuming contact and holding talks are the first steps toward achieving that goal.

If inter-Korea talks are held to discuss the DPRK's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Games, other issues could also be brought to the dialogue table, even if to discuss them later. After all, talks are far better than giving each other the cold shoulder.

The author is a writer with Xinhua News Agency.