Tensions ease on the Korean peninsula

(Vatican Radio) There are further signs that tensions are easing on the Korean Peninsula, after South Korea proposed new talks with the North.

Listen to regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn's report...


South Korea's government proposed talks this weekend on resuming work at a joint industrial zone inside North Korea.

A spokesman said South Korea sent the message using a cross-border hotline that North Korea cut off this Spring and reconnected this week.

It suggested the talks take place at the Panmnujon border crossing.

The Kaesong industrial zone was all but evacuated during talk of war by North Korea several weeks ago. It meant a loss of income for more than 50,000 North Koreans working there for South Korean manufacturers.

This is the second known attempt at such a meeting since North Korea toneddown its rhetoric. An earlier round of talks took place but then fell apart because of disagreement over protocol.

Meanwhile, North Korea has released video of American citizen Kenneth Bae, sentenced there to hard labour.

In it, he says he does farm work six days a week, and he urges Washington to "try harder" to get him free. Observers believe that's a message North Korea's government chose to release.