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suggest that now is likely the best time to renew the Six-Party Talks. Five
years have passed, and they were marked by conflict, death, changes in
government, and important nuclear developments on the Korean
peninsula. The region as a whole has undergone tension, and relations
among all of the parties are tenuous, but perhaps for all of these reasons it
would be best to begin, rather than continue stalling. With a framework in
place, the Talks could provide the forum necessary for real dialogue, and
one in which new representatives would be involved for the majority of
the parties. China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea have all
undergone important elections or regime changes since the last Talks were
held. For this reason, the actors should seize this moment to reevaluate the
positions and aims of all involved, in hopes that these new voices can pave
a new way forward towards a peaceful resolution of the nuclear question.
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