Nothing passes the time like a juicy soap opera, and sudser fans are a dedicated bunch. But what about the healing power of soap opera in international geopolitics?
At this week's summit between the two Koreas, the rich and democratic South and the secretive, poor and avowedly Stalinist North, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun presented his northern counterpart Kim Jong Il with dozens of DVDs before their talks at a state guesthouse in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
Kim is a famous film buff and is well-known for his fascination with films -- directing several himself and even kidnapping a director and actress from South Korea to help out.
Among the dozens of discs was one of South Korea's most popular TV dramas, "Jewel in the Palace", about a cook for the royal family in the days when Korea was unified and starring Lee Yong-ae, believed to be Kim's favorite starlet.
Just one day later, Kim agrees to talk to about a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, effectively ending the last frontier of the Cold War, and looks ready to sign an international deal to disable its nuclear facilities.
Coincidence? I think not.

(C. Coonan)