Thus given Kim Jung-eun's 40-day absence and the visibility of Vice Marshall Hwang Pong-so and other seniors, and the concurrent diplomatic outreach from Hwang and other seniors in the government, it would be fair to assume that Kim, despite his illness, had instructed these seniors to pursue this type of outreach. If indeed this was Kim's initiative, it was a very positive development. It could mean that Kim is now listening to these officials and relying on them to pursue a more moderate approach to relations with South Korea, the North's most important interlocutor, and with the United States and Japan.
This more moderate approach has to resonate positively with China; it could put North Korea on a path to re-establishing its historic relationship with Beijing. Indeed, statements from North Korean officials that they want to resume the six-party talks process coincides nicely with China's request, during the United Nations speech of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, that the US and others should return to the table.
This diplomatic outreach and Kim's extended absence could also imply that seniors close to him have convinced the leader that his policies were failing and that he had to change course and correct these mistakes; that he had to give these and other senior professionals greater responsibility for establishing and implementing policy. Ideally, Kim would have agreed with this request and reluctantly or enthusiastically blessed this initiative.
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