Coinciding with the slowdown in inter-Korean dialogue since the spring of 2001, there have been a growing number ofnaval and border clashes between the two Koreas and between North Korea and Japan. Thisis amarked contrast to earlier thaws (in 1972, 1985, and the early 1990s) in which the governments monopolizedcross-borderactivity. (8)
Criticism of the Sunshine Policy in South Korea. (10) President Kim'sdomestic support has been further weakened by the widespread perception that he is a "lame duck." Chronology

		2000

3/9/00 - Kim Dae Jung's "Berlin Declaration." 12/12-16/00 - 4th round inter-ministerial talks , in Pyongyang. Thenew Defense Minister, Kim Dong-shin, has conservative ties. TheROKalso announces there will not be a joint North-South celebration of the first anniversary of the June 2000 summit. The U.S. will offer theDPRK a further lifting of U.S. sanctions, assistance to the North Korean people (presumably food aid), and "otherpoliticalsteps" if the North agrees to 1) start to take serious, verifiable steps to reduce the conventional weapons threat tothe South,2) "improved implementation" of the '94 Framework, and 3) verifiable "constraints" on North Korea's missileexports.
This report chronicles major developments in the thaw between North and South Korea that has followed the historicinter-Korean summit meeting in June 2000. In the months immediately following the summit, the two Koreasdeveloped anew dialogue, which included several inter-ministerial talks, a meeting of defense ministers, talks on economiccooperation, and family reunions. The sheer breadth and depth of the dialogue indicated to many analysts that SeoulandPyongyang were trying in earnest to regularize and institutionalize the rapprochement, in contrast to previouslyephemeralthaws in 1972, 1985 and the early 1990s. There have been several setbacks, however, leading many critics towonderwhether North Korea's diplomatic outreach is merely a tactic to obtain economic assistance and reduce the U.S.trooppresence in South Korea. Since February 2001, inter-Korean diplomacy has effectively been frozen. With SouthKoreanPresident Kim Dae Jung being openly labeled a "lame duck," many have wondered whether his sunshine policy ofengaging North Korea has run out of steam.
Due to the growing length of the chronology, this report will not be updated. Instead, a new North-South timeline will bestarted each calendar year, beginning with events on January 1 of that year.