[Editorial] A milestone in the N. Korean nuclear issue

Posted on : 2007-09-04 14:08 KST Modified on : 2007-09-04 14:08 KST

The two-day talks between North Korea and the United States held in Geneva Sept. 1-2 have come to a successful close. The talks were part of a series of working-level discussions within the six-party framework, and it appears that the two sides have tentatively agreed to a timetable for commensurate measures to be taken by the United States in response to the second phase of North Korea’s denuclearization. Subsequently, it becomes more likely that the main six-party talks scheduled for the middle of this month and the six-nation foreign ministers’ meeting expected in October will go smoothly. This development also gives the summit between Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush on Sept. 7, and the inter-Korean summit coming in early October, more room to work with.

It is encouraging to see that at the Geneva meeting North Korea agreed to report all of its nuclear programs by the end of the year and disable all of its nuclear facilities. This was always something stipulated by the February 13 agreement, but the fact that it has been worked out further demonstrates that Pyongyang has a considerable intention of carrying it out, given how the schedule had been delayed because of the problem of North Korea’s money in Macao’s Banco Delta Asia. Reportedly, the North was also open about its uranium enrichment program. In other words, an important milestone has been set for a full resolution of the nuclear issue.

One notes the attitude of the United States, which has pledged political and economic compensation. North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan said that “political compensation is changing the policy of hostility toward us” and that it means creation of a “structural and legal apparatus for building a peaceful coexistence.” This seems to hint that the U.S. was more willing than in the past to consider removing North Korea from its list of terror-sponsoring states and to stop applying the Trading With the Enemy Act. This would fit with U.S. President Bush’s expression of his desire to normalize relations with Pyongyang before his term in office is out.

The road ahead is not, of course, without obstacles. Of the greatest importance is whether North Korea will leaving anything about its nuclear programs unreported. The United States and the other nations participating in the six-party talks are ready to move swiftly in response to Pyongyang’s actions. The North must not lose this opportunity. The variable here is that there is no knowing whether the North might suddenly bring up the subject of a light water reactor. It needs to know that it would be hard for there to be any substantial progress on that before there is considerably more confidence in its actions.

Meanwhile, talks between Japan and North Korea on normalizing ties are set for Sept. 5-6. We hope that when it comes to the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea, the two sides will find points of compromise, beginning with facts that are able to be confirmed. At the U.S.-Korea summit, we would hope there is talk not only about the nuclear issue but also about the big picture, including a peace regime for the Korean peninsula and the Northeast Asian region. The six-party process has entered a stage in which we need to think about carrying out the second phase of the February 13 agreement in good faith and what happens next, once the second phase is fully implemented.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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