By Jun Ji-hye



Inter-Korean relations are apparently showing signs of detente following an agreement at high-level talks to hold reunions of war-separated families from Feb. 20 to 25 as planned.



However, the most serious question is: Will North Korea be any different this time?



Pyongyang promised not to link the reunion to the joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises, which will kick off on Feb. 24. In return, Seoul agreed ― as did the North ― to the cessation of all forms of slander and insults.



The North earlier demanded the postponement of the drills, putting a blight on the hopes of the families separated during the Korean War.



The two sides agreeing to hold additional high-level talks in the future, at each other's convenience, offer cautious optimism about an improvement in inter-Korean relations.



Experts, however, say how long the North will maintain such a cooperative attitude remains to be seen as it would be hard for the regime to give up its nuclear card.



Park Young-ho, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the North is expected to cooperate with the South for the time being in a bid to resolve some of its internal problems, including rumored instability caused by the recent execution of former No. 2 man Jang Song-thaek and a purge of his followers.



"The North is probably aware that the purge damaged its image internationally. Improving strained ties between the two Koreas would be necessary for them to further improve relations with China and the United States," said Park.



Support from outside including the South would be also necessary for the young leader Kim Jong-un to push forward with his economic policies, according to Park.



The analyst pointed out that the reclusive state is obviously aiming at earning economic gains from the dialogue.



"The North is expected to demand the resumption of the Mt. Geumgang tour program in the next talks. It also wants to receive food and fertilizer aid from the South," said Park. "Relaxing the May 24 measures is in Pyongyang's interest as well."



The measures, which were imposed after the North torpedoed the South Korean frigate Cheonan in March 2010, refer to the package of strict embargos on inter-Korean economic and personnel exchange.



However, if the past trend of the behavior of the North is anything to go by, how long such a cooperative stance will continue remains uncertain. This is all the more so given the reclusive state's tendency to take unilateral measures based on its own whimsical assessment of whether its interests in the dialogue process are being served or not.



The exclusion of nuclear issues in the agreement at the talks also raises a number of questions.



Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea specialist at Dongguk University, told a cable news program, "At this stage, completing the Seoul-Washington exercises without friction between the two Koreas will be a significant task in maintaining the dialogue mode."



The professor added, "Following this, how well the South and North create an atmosphere to resolve nuclear matters will considerably affect further ties."



