North Korea appealing to South's opposition, report says

SEOUL, April 7 (UPI) -- North Korea's recent message of reconciliation to the South comes as South Korea gets ready to hold parliamentary elections.

The timing of the message could mean North Korea is taking advantage of a political divide between left-leaning progressives and the conservatives of the ruling Saenuri Party, local news service News 1 reported.

North Korea had said Wednesday it still wants to improve relations with the South despite tensions and recent threats to destroy parts of Seoul.

"Our principled position on opening the way for North-South dialogue and improved relations has not changed," North Korea's state news agency KCNA had said in statement.

Pyongyang also said the two sides should abide by the June 15 North–South Joint Declaration that was signed by former leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung in 2000.

Kim Dae-jung was a former dissident and a leader of South Korea's political opposition.

South Korea's progressives have often supported increased dialogue with the North, but increased tensions and the North's threats to assassinate President Park Geun-hye have bolstered the idea of keeping Pyongyang at arm's length in the South.

Pyongyang could also be trying to appear conciliatory before ordinary North Koreans in a run-up to the Seventh Party Congress in May, and perhaps even to restart negotiations.

Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea specialist at Dongguk University in Seoul, said the "tough then moderate" strategy of the North could mean Pyongyang might offer to restart the six-party talks after the conclusion of joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises at the end of April.

But the strategy doesn't rule out continued provocations, Kim said.

The North's incitements could boost support for South Korea's conservatives ahead of the April 13 election, Voice of America reported.

"When tensions are heightened due to North Korea, conservatives usually gain votes," said Hwang Tae-soon, a political analyst.