BEIJING // In signs of a softer attitude towards its northern neighbour, South Korea is sending medicine for North Korean children and has stopped balloon-drops of propaganda leaflets.
Analysts say South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is echoing a shift in public sentiment after two deadly confrontations between the countries last year and may be looking to his own legacy as his term nears an end.
Tensions increased last year after the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel, an event blamed on Pyongyang, and the shelling in November by North Korea of the south's Yeonpyeong Island, killing four people.
Now, the South Korean authorities are sending Hepatitis B vaccines for more than a million children to North Korea, the first such shipments in more than a year.
And Seoul's Yonhap news agency last week quoted a military source saying troops have not sent leaflets attached to balloons into North Korea for several months. The country began leadlet drops after the Yeonpyeong shelling.
"[Last year] there was a lot of public sympathy for taking a hard line, but it didn't produce results - the north did not apologise," said Brian Bridges, a professor at Lingnan University in Hong Kong who has written and edited books on Korea.
"This year, the public mood has moved, [there is a belief] that we cannot continue in this situation, so maybe we have to be more flexible."
Mr Lee may be keen for ties to improve because he is interested in organising a summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, suggested Mr Bridges. And as Mr Lee's term ends in 2012, the South Korean leader is considering what his legacy will be.
"Both his predecessors had a summit meeting with Kim Jong-il ... maybe he's thinking, 'Should I try for a summit before I step down?'" said Mr Bridges.
"It's one eye on thinking of his legacy and whether the legacy will be no improvement or a deterioration, or whether in his last year he will be able to do something and bring back a measure of dialogue."
Mr Lee has generally taken a harder line with the north than his two predecessors, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, who promoted the "sunshine policy" encouraging rapprochement.
As well as this week's developments, further signs South Korea has softened its stance towards its northern neighbour include loosening restrictions on visits by aid groups or religious leaders to North Korea.
Last week Pyongyang stepped up its propaganda campaign against South Korea by adding icons linking to Facebook and Twitter on its official Uriminzokkiri website.
This allows readers to share content using the social networking sites, potentially increasing the number of South Koreans who read the material. Although Uriminzokkiri is blocked in South Korea, techno-savvy netizens are able to get around the restrictions.
"The north is being more inventive. It's appreciating there's a lot of scope for getting into South Korea using modern technology," said Mr Bridges.
"The South Korean society is one of the most wired in the world. It doesn't surprise me the north should try to use this."
North Korea, while heavily restricting internet use by its own citizens, has also uploaded multiple pictures to the photo-sharing website Flickr. These show everything from farms to mountain scenery, towerblocks under construction and factories.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
Sunday's games
Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
New Zealand T20 squad
New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Squads
Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa
India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
Race card:
6.30pm: Maiden; Dh165,000; 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap; Dh165,000; 2,200m
7.40pm: Conditions; Dh240,000; 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 2,000m
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed; Dh265,000; 1,200m
9.25pm: Handicap; Dh170,000; 1,600m
10pm: Handicap; Dh190,000; 1,400m
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
