DPRK's new diplomatic card
On the Korean Peninsula, the big news was the surprise one-day visit to the Republic of Korea on Saturday by three top officials from the Democratic People's Republic of Korean - Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon - to attend the closing ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games.
It was unprecedented for such high-level DPRK officials to travel together to the ROK. Their visit was highly welcomed by Park Geun-hye administration. The sports diplomacy is politically significant, as it shows the willingness of the two countries to improve relations. It can be regarded as the climax of recent diplomatic efforts made by the DPRK, which reflects an adjustment by the Kim Jong-un government in the way it interacts with the international community.
After failing with its on-the-brink-of-war policy in 2013, the DPRK is now relying on diplomatic means. Based on the consolidation of power, developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, and ending its isolation are the top priorities on Kim Jong-un's agenda.
