金大中上臺後一再表明與北韓修好的意願，而且也願意與金正日舉行高峰會談， 共謀南北韓問題的和平解決。北韓新領導人金正日也給予金大中善意的回應，呼籲平壤與漢 城改善關係，讓朝鮮半島及海外的所有韓國人相互訪問，進行接觸促進對話及加強團結。兩 韓政府間的官方接觸「四邊會談」與「副部長級會談」的舉行，顯示雙方都有意改善關係， 並緩和朝鮮半島的緊張情勢。由於雙方互信基礎薄弱，敵我意識根深蒂固加上立場南轅北轍 ，官方的接觸談判曠日費時自然無法立見成效，反而是非政治性的經貿合作與社會文化交流 正逐步展開，對消除誤會增進相互信任與了解，已發揮催化的作用，只要雙方本著相互尊重 、存同求異、互惠互利的精神耐心協商，朝鮮半島的緊張情勢將日趨緩和，進而為東亞與世 界和平作出貢獻。

　　　　　President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea has proposed the convening of a summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong-il and has further indicated that his government would push to expand economic and other exchanges with the North communist regime. Kim Jong-il has said that North Korea is willing to have a dialogue and negotiations with anyone in South Korea, including political parties and organizations. The inter-government contact- " four-party talks" and "vice-ministerial meetings" -have signified that North and South Korea are willing to improve their relations and reduce the tension on the Korean Penninsula. The basic policies of both South and North Korea, however, are based on a zero-sum mentalily. Peaceful coexistence between the North and South seems unthinkable; inter-government contact and talks have failed to improve substantially the relationship between the Koreas. However, nonpolitical contact including economic cooperation and cultural exchanges have already begun. These informal ties not only contribute to mutual confidence and trust between the two Koreas but also contribute to regional and global peace and security.