S. Korean Source Reports Optimism, Peace Through Development Approach in North Will Continue After Kim Jong-il's Death

A source in the South Korean government reported that the government in Seoul is optimistic that the positive developments in relations with North Korea over the past year will continue and will likely even improve with the passing of Kim Jong-il. He said that the concept behind Kim's recent shift toward cooperation and development is institutional, and that there are no major factions in the North which do not want to continue with them, including the willingness to give up the nuclear weapons programs over time in exchange for aid, development, and recognition, probably through renewed six-party talks.

The Russians are fully committed to the continued development of the proposed pipeline and rail routes through North Korea to the South, he said, which is the core of the recent shift to "peace through development," rather than confrontation between North and South. These developments were only possible with the support of China, but also South Korea, with backing from the U.S. State Department.

The source is not as certain of China's response to the new situation, and will be watching closely how this unfolds. China also has been developing road and port facilities in North Korea's northeast port area of Rajin (linked to the Russian rail developments in the same area), and trade zones on the western China/North Korea border on the Yellow Sea.

Lyndon LaRouche commented that the Koreans are hopeful because the process is becoming systemic, with all the regional parties involved (Russia, China, Japan and both Koreas). The rail connections linking the two Koreas and connecting to the Russian rail system (long supported by LaRouche), are historic, he said. The current plans, in the context of history, are a marginal but serious development which must be pursued.