Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In a gesture of mutual conciliation between the two Koreas, Seoul has authorized a North Korean delegation to travel to the south to pay homage to former president Kim Dae-jung, who died last August 18. Pyongyang, in response, has removed cross border restrictions on the passage of people and announced the resumption of telephone communications between the two countries.

Widespread condolences for the death of Kim Dae-jung, father of the "Sunshine Policy", the policy of détente between the two Koreas and leader of the historic 2000 summit with Kim Jong-il seems to have thawed relations on the Korean peninsula, frozen for several months.  

Today North Korea informed the South that it will complete the removal of cross border restrictions on traffic. In particular, it will normalize operations of the Office for the Economic Cooperation of South-North Korea, which it had closed down in December. The North Korean regime also announced the resumption of rail links, broken off at the end of 2008. The "peace train", launched with great pomp in November 2007, was one of the most important gestures on the path to reconciliation. It runs along the 25 kilometres that divide Minsan, in the south, and Bongdong, in the North.

Finally, the regime has also confirmed the resumption of telephone communications through a single channel - the military - which connects North and South. Officially it is to allow direct contact during the visit of the North Korean delegation for the funeral of Kim Dae-jung, but even this decision constitutes a significant step on the path towards normalization of relations.  

Analysts and experts on Korean politics emphasise "the importance of the steps taken by Pyongyang”, in spite of the announced joint military operations on the border of South Korea and the United States, that the North has always considered a “threat to national sovereignty”.  Yesterday, Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico, spoke of "positive signs" after direct talks with North Korean delegates. The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under the Clinton Administration confirmed “a reduction of tension” and the will of the regime to open “direct contacts” with Washington on the nuclear issue.

Meanwhile a delegation of senior North Korean officials arrived in Seoul to pay homage to Kim Dae-jung (see photo of Yonhap News). The visit should last two days and it is possible - although there is no official confirmation – there might be an opportunity for direct talks with President Lee Myung-bak or representatives of the South Korean executive.