S. Korea do Their Part to Get Talks Started

South Korea, like the United States, has lightened their language toward North Korea in the newly released "Defense White Papers". Both America and South Korea are doing all they can to "jumpstart" talks with North Korea -- North Korea, however, does enjoy playing games; making request then backing down, acting as if it is ready for talks but changing their mind the following day. The South Korean people are used to this; however, American's memories are short and the US media seems to be shocked by this every time it happens (for examples see post here and here). Here are some highlights from a story about South Koreas language change:

SEOUL (Reuters) - For the first time in a decade, South Korea (news - web sites) has stopped labeling North Korea (news - web sites) its "main enemy" but its latest Defense White Paper Friday said it suspects the reclusive state of possessing nuclear weapons.

The tag of main enemy has angered the North in the past and the move to drop the label coincides with attempts by Seoul to coax the communist state back to six-party talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

The Defense White Paper adopted the "main enemy" terminology in 1995, a year after a top North general said the communist state would turn Seoul into "a sea of fire" in the event of war.

"The existing expression of 'the main enemy North Korea' has been replaced by an explanation of the North's specific military threat, such as its conventional weapons, weapons of mass destruction, and its forward deployment of military power," the Defense Ministry said in briefing notes to the White Paper.

The North stopped using hostile language when referring to the South after an unprecedented summit between the two Koreas in 2000, the White Paper said, citing this as a reason for dropping the main enemy tag.