After the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, international diplomats had hoped for the initiation of dialogues with current Kim Jong-Un in altering issues regarding nuclear developments.
But with North Korea’s planned launch of long-range rockets next month, it has lead to speculation that "acorns don't fall far from the tree in North Korea".
The Obama administration was seen to be taking a "modest step" recently by offering 240,000 tons of US “nutritional assistance” in a first step probing closer ties with North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-Un. But last week, North Korea announced that it will be launching a satellite in mid-April, abrogating the US pact.
Although North Korea claims that the satellite launch is civilian, there is little difference in the technology used and that needed to launch long-range missiles.
With President Obama facing pressure to reign in North Korea, the President is a on a three-day visit to Seoul as part of a Nuclear Security Summit. 53 other nations will also be present for the summit, where they will discuss measures taken on preventing nuclear material from reaching rogue groups and states. North Korea, along with Iran, did not receive invitations to attend.
Visiting the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Obama remarked,
"We've presented to them an opportunity to take a different path from the one they are taking.""They need to understand that bad behaviour will not be rewarded."
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