An atmosphere of hope regarding the future of relations lingered on the eve of the New Year 2010， as the latter half of 2009 witnessed a series of positive measures taken by North Korea toward South Korea. Entering 2010， it seemed as though Pyongyang and Seoul were progressing toward a better relationship. The same cannot be said now， one year later， in early 2011， as inter-Korean relations ended at an all-time low at years’ end