South Korea and the United States are showing no immediate signs of easing pressure on North Korea despite a series of overtures by the communist nation, including a reported offer of summit talks with the rival South, AP reported. North Korea, which had been stoking tensions with nuclear and missile tests, has been markedly conciliatory toward the U.S. and South Korea since freeing two American journalists following a trip to Pyongyang by former President Bill Clinton earlier this month. It has since freed a South Korean worker it held for more than four months, agreed to lift restrictions on border crossings with the South, and pledged to resume suspended joint inter-Korean projects and reunions of families separated during the Korean War over five decades ago. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il also sent a delegation to Seoul to mourn late former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. It was the first time North Korean officials have visited the South since ties frayed badly after conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in Seoul last year. Despite the series of overtures from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington remained firm that they need to see North Korea taking concrete steps on ending its nuclear programs before they consider softening their stance on a nation known for backtracking on agreements. -- SPA
