North Korea crisis can be eased via talks: Thai academics

BANGKOK, Sept 7 (TNA) – The escalating tension on the Korean peninsula will continue and could be relieved only through peaceful talks among all concerned parties, Thai academics said Thursday. Speaking at an academic seminar on North Korea by the Institute of East Asian Studies, the Thai academics admitted that the Korean conflict would not end soon due to strong disagreements between the US and North Korea as well as there were ongoing disputes in the past. They, however, shrugged off the possibility of the third World War and said a fresh talk could be the only way to ease the tension. Damrong Thandee, director of the Center for Korean Studies at Ramkhamhaeng University, said unpredictable moves of the US and North Korean leaders have become a key factor directing the situation in the region, because most of global countries opted to maintain their neutral stance, or even showed signs of compromise over the issue. He noted that the problem would not be solved easily under the leadership of Kim Jong-un and his policies. Meanwhile, Kiatichai Pongpanich, a senior journalist, said a return to the negotiating tables is the most possible option that could bring the crisis back to normalcy, given that some conditions should be altered from the previous six-party talks, which were deemed unsuccessful. He added that ASEAN members can be act as an intermediary in the nuclear crisis between North Korea and other countries. (TNA)