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PacNet #47A – Korean Peninsula: Missed Opportunities

North Korea never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The latest example occurred earlier this month when Pyongyang precipitated yet another breakdown in the on again, off again North-South dialogue process, thus dealing a staggering, if not fatal blow to ROK President Kim Dae-jung’s beleaguered Sunshine Policy of engagement with the North. North Korea’s actions will likely further reduce hopes for a resumption of U.S.-DPRK dialogue as well and could cause many of Pyongyang’s other Western interlocutors to rethink the wisdom of strengthening their own ties with the unpredictable Hermit Kingdom.