The six-party talks on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue are finally set to start the last week of July. That is the combined result of North Korea's realistic judgment, the United States' flexible attitude, and an active effort at mediation by Korea and China. The first three rounds were a time for sniffing each other out. The upcoming round of talks will be the first in 13 months, and must produce substantial results through serious negotiation.
The prospects for the upcoming talks are better than ever before. One way that can be seen is in how the top delegates to the talks from North Korea and the United States, Kim Gye Gwan and Christopher Hill, met in Beijing and agreed on restarting the six-party format. That meeting was itself unusual, but they also seem to have formed a certain degree of common understanding about what will be discussed. That means the two countries have more determination than before. This is welcome news. In addition, intra-Korean relations are back on track and that will help the talks, too. It is positive to have concentrated discussion about the "denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." North Korea wants to talk about changing the armistice agreement and US forces in Korea while US hardliners want to talk about North Korean human rights and its conventional military capabilities, but those would be best talked about in a different format, after there is progress on the nuclear issue.
Excessive optimism must nevertheless be avoided. There still is not enough trust established between the North and the US. Fundamentally the North Korean nuclear issue began when Pyongyang sought to secure a nuclear deterrent against hostile US policy, and so there could be some unforeseen surprises if both sides do not work steadily at building trust. That is why each side needs to keep from forgetting the sprit of mutual respect and must follow the principle of taking concurrent action. Aside from Pyongyang's nuclear plans that involve plutonium, another big question will be how the issue of the nuclear devices it has already declared it has gets handled.
It goes without saying that the South's role is becoming more important. Aside from implementing the "important proposal" delivered by Unification Minister Chung Dong Young to North Korea's National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il, it must show initiative in creating a more evolved plan for alleviating the North's security concerns. It must also endeavor to strengthen intra-Korean relations, without wavering, whatever the situation may be.
The Hankyoreh, 11 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
Six-Party Talks Must Produce Results |
