Korean Talks

North Korea has initiated talks with the South, which is a strange development considering the mixture of reports of stalled talks, China's reluctance to sanction North Korea, and the increasing tension over the North's aggressive nuclear ambitions.

Lee Sang-hyun, director of the security studies program at Seoul's Sejong Institute, says the nuclear issue will certainly come up. But he warns that the request for talks does not necessarily signal a willingness by Pyongyang to discuss its nuclear program seriously.

North Korea last year asked Seoul for 500,000 tons of fertilizer, a request the South Koreans put on hold. Mr. Lee says Pyongyang might now need that fertilizer on an urgent basis.

"This time of year - perhaps this time - they need fertilizer. Given that, economic necessity, or urgency, may be one factor for North Korea to propose this meeting," he said.

Fertilizer or some other base need could be the core to getting North Korea to break down once again, apparently. Hm...