Washington has wanted Pyongyang to sign a formal peace treaty with Seoul ever since the fighting between North and South stopped in 1953. The United States and South Korea again proposed negotiations last year. Still it took months of discussions to get the North Koreans to agree to a meeting. The meeting was historic, but its goals limited. The officials were to set a date, time, place and agenda for substantive negotiations.
Diplomats are never more cautious than when they speak about North Korea.
Expectations for the real talks are decidedly low, progress will certainly be slow. North Korea does not have much going for it these days, except a huge military, a dormant nuclear weapons program and a well-cultivated reputation for being erratic. Officials know how to work these advantages. At best the negotiations will be prolonged, deliberate and complicated. South Korea will wait.