hankyoreh

North Korean perverseness has stalled the latest round of six-party talks in Beijing. The North Korean delegation has essentially rejected participating in any substantial discussion because its money tied up in Banco Delta Asia (BDA) has yet to been received in its North Korean bank account. More than being a lack of flexibility, this is a form of brinkmanship. This behavior is not going to destroy the framework of the six-party talks, but it has clearly hurt confidence in the process. We urge Pyongyang to get with the program.

The United States government announced on March 19 that it would release all of the US$25 million frozen at BDA since September 2005 because of allegations Pyongyang was using the bank for money laundering. In other words, it decided to resolve the issue the way that Pyongyang has demanded, defying American hard-liners, who say the move amounts to letting North Korea get away with illegal behavior. It should go without saying that the reason the U.S. has demonstrated good faith in this way is because it wants to give the six-party talks more momentum. That being the case, the right thing for North Korea to do would be to respond in a similarly proactive fashion at the talks. It is doing the opposite, however, and that is most regrettable.

North Korea might be thinking the U.S. cannot be trusted until Pyongyang gets its money. Before it starts to say such things, however, it needs to realize that its own behavior is itself causing distrust. The framework of the six-party talks is not particularly strong, even before all of this. The agreement reached in the six-party format on February 13 was hard won, and it represents only the specifications to lay the foundation that should be under way right now. The situation is such that the process from here on in could swerve from the target goal should any of the nations party to the talks cause the slightest problem.

These talks were not intended to be a forum in which just a few of the nations present are granted something they desire. All the countries involved need to faithfully carry out the roles determined for them under the principle of "action for action." If they don’t, they will be unable to decide on a timetable for the next phase in the process. North Korea really needs to avoid the temptation to try for more concessions by using brinkmanship tactics. The other countries involved expect North Korea to make a clear strategic choice to give up its nuclear program and engage the process in good faith.

The six-party talks have the potential to be a massive opportunity for North Korea’s future. Those in the U.S. who favor negotiating with Pyongyang are in a stronger position than ever before, and the parties to the talks are all firm in their desire to see a peace regime built for the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia. Relations between Pyongyang and Washington remain cold, but discussion among the working groups initiated at the last round of talks is moving forward. North Korea needs to keep from losing the momentum by obsessing over minor issues. It is very likely the situation will become far more confrontational than it was before the agreement reached on February 13 if everyone at the current talks becomes disappointed with Pyongyang right now.
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]