Korea's War Continues

The news cannot be read without seeing a headline regarding the nuclear talks in North Korea. "North Korea Won't Quit Nuclear Program." "Pyongyang Nuclear Talks Lack North Korea." "Korea Wants U.S. Troops Out." "North and South Korea Hosting Square Dancing Hoedown." The lastest headline is "North Korea Seeks Peace Treaty."

I learned many new facts in this article. North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Korean War (of the 1950s, I assume) has not officially ended although they maintain a ceasefire agreement. The U.S., China, and North and South Korea held talks in Geneva in 1997 to formalize a peace treaty, but they made no progress. Russia and Japan have since been added to the talks considering Pyongyang's nuclear program. The two Korea's recently linked their capitals through a private phone line--the first such connection in 60 years.

It would be quite a feat if North and South Korea reconciled their differences to become one nation again. In a day and age where countries continue to break apart by ethnic boundaries (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, USSR, etc.), a merger is substantial. Walking together under one flag (but competing separately) at the Athens Olympics in 2004 is just one step on the path toward a single Korea.