At first glance non-committal and uncomfortably laudatory, the U.S.-China summit has subsequently proved to be a breakthrough that seems to have drawn the peninsula back from the brink. Whether or not it will become the catalyst to a lasting (and denuclearized) peace remained unclear, as the North and South start preparing for high-level military talks.

Barack Obama and Hu Jintao's joint statement calling for "inter-Korean dialogue" broke the ice on the peninsula. As recently as the week prior to the Washington summit, South Korea had been resolutely opposed to such talks unless an acknowledgement, if not apology for the Yeonpyeong and Cheonan incidents was forthcoming.