SOCIOECONOMIC EXCHANGES AND OFFICIOUS TALKS BETWEEN THE 2 CHINA - IMPLICATIONS FOR INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS

Of the two major divided nations in the world, there are two distinctively different approaches in dealing with the issue of reunification. The two Koreas took a comparatively more official, high-profile approach with off and on prime ministerial talks. The two Chinas, which only began to talk in the early 1990s, have maintained an officious, low-profile approach. The author contends that while the Chinese talks have not been aiming at reunification, they have at least brought the two parties together working to resolve conflicts resulting from closer interaction. This officious approach may have implications for the stagnant inter-Korean relations.