Koreans say inter-Korean exchanges reduce tension

About 34 percent of South Koreans think increasing exchanges with the North is the best way to lower tension on the Korean Peninsula, a survey conducted by a local defense think tank showed Monday, according to Yonhap News.

In the nationwide poll of 1,261 adults, including 60 North Korea experts, over 60 percent said expansion of inter-Korean exchanges would have a positive influence on changes in the North.

The Research Institute on National Security Affairs, part of the Korea National Defense University, conducted the survey from September to October last year. Results showed that 33.6 percent of respondents pointed to the expansion of exchanges with North Korea as the most important means to reduce security threats on the peninsula.

Nearly 30 percent cited reinforcing South Korea`s military capabilities as the most important task, while 18 percent pointed to a stronger alliance with the United States and 17.7 percent chose greater cooperation with such neighboring countries as Japan, China and Russia.

Among experts surveyed, 40 percent said cementing cooperation with the U.S. is the most significant, while 28.3 percent cited "increasing exchanges with the North" and the remaining 15 percent "reinforcing South Korea`s military power."