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For North Korea, he says, the potential dividends of returning to talks are much higher, including "diplomatic recognition and economic aid," as promised in the Geneva agreement of 1994 between the US and North Korea and then in agreements reached at six-party talks in 2005 and 2007.

Analysts believe North Korea, facing the severe hunger and disease that has stricken the country periodically since the 1990s, is also suffering from UN economic sanctions imposed after its second underground nuclear test on May 25. The US is pushing strenuously for enforcement of the sanctions, designed primarily to keep North Korea from importing and exporting military materiel, notably missiles, and anything to do with weapons of mass destruction.

the North Korean government revalued the country's currency, the won, and imposed restrictions on the quantity of old bills that people could convert for the new ones. Pyongyang's revaluation means that 100 won is now worth 1 won.

the revaluation is a major measure designed to consolidate the government's control over the economy as it works towards unveiling the DPRK as a "strong and prosperous nation" (kangsong daeguk) in 2012. Defectors had noted that the market activity sprouting out over key parts of the country had been eroding discipline -- corruption among officials had been increasing significantly, fueled by a growing group of prosperous market traders. This trend had the effect of decentralizing the DPRK regime's power.

In an apparent effort to restore discipline through this revaluation, the DPRK government may have initiated a period of economic, social, and political destabilization by undermining a widely used coping mechanism for the people, as well as a growing number of officials.

But while Kim Jong-un has support among North Korea's elite, the Chosun Ilbo notes in another article that he appears to be unpopular among the citizenry. The paper writes that while Kim Il-sung is still highly regarded by North Koreans, they only fear Kim Jong-il, and dismiss Kim Jong-un as a nobody.One defector told the newspaper that "The regime says Kim Jong-un has inherited the 'revolutionary achievements' and traditions from his grandfather, but the public has no illusions about him. People are simply speechless at Kim Jong-il's greed in placing his young son on the throne." Another called Kim Jong-un "a scoundrel who relies on his father's power to do whatever he wants. The distrust North Koreans feel toward Kim Jong-il will turn into animosity toward Kim Jong-un, who is said to be just like his father."

Analysts said Mr Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong-un, would probably be given an official title at the conference.

youngest