BEIJING (AP) — The United States and North Korea reopen nuclear talks this week that will provide a glimpse into whether a political transition to Kim Jong Il’s young son is going smoothly two months after the longtime North Korean leader’s death.
Analysts say the talks Thursday could show North Korea’s readiness to get back to a nuclear disarmament-for-aid deal with Washington that was in the works on the eve of Kim’s death.
Stonewalling by North Korea could be a sign of disagreement in the government, although some analysts see the fact that North Korea even agreed to talks as a sign of cohesion.
Kim Keun-sik, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University in South Korea, says the talks show North Korea is enjoying some internal stability.
