Seoul - Tensions are reducing on the Korean Peninsula as dialogue increases with North Korea, an economic security analyst said. "The security status in Korea is moving away from confrontation towards dialogue," said Dong Yong Seung, who leads the economic security team at Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI).
SERI's view is based on its quarterly survey of 40 security experts from five countries participating in multilateral denuclearization talks with North Korea - the United States, Japan, Russia, China and South Korea.
The latest Korean Peninsula Security Index rose above the neutral level of 50 points for the first time in 20 months, Dong said. Any level above 50 points indicates the situation is regarded as positive.
China played an important role in breaking the 20-month run of tensions, he added. "China played a bridge role between North Korea and the international community, so that North Korea may feel secure about its regime."
North Korea's economic needs are another factor in the move towards dialogue. "By now North Korea may well think that it is politically, ideologically and militarily solid enough. Now, it needs to work to meet its self-imposed economic goal to become a strong economy by 2013," Dong said.
South Korea has quickly recognized North Korea's need to improve inter-Korean ties, the SERI researcher said.
However, the improvement in dialogue is not enough to expect North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons any time in the foreseeable future. "North Korea will continue to try to stabilize its regime while maintaining its nuclear capability," he said.
"That is why all of the participant countries need to stick together [against North Korea]," he added.
