[Editorial] Hope in 'Unofficial 6-Party Talks'

There has been no progress in regards to reopening the fifth round of six-party talks, and now there is a new outbreak of conflict between North Korea and the United States. The North's foreign ministry and official news agencies are saying it will strengthen its "nuclear deterrent" to defend its "sovereignty." The U.S. ambassador in Seoul called the North a "criminal regime," and since then the U.S. government has affirmed that definition as policy. Given the tone of what is being said it looks like things will return to what they were before the joint statement agreed on in Beijing on September 19.

The most direct cause of the recent discord between the U.S. and the North is the American decision to initiate financial sanctions and pressure the North on human rights. Just as the U.S. says, neither are new issues. But people are wondering whether the fact that the U.S. is making them an issue right as the six-party process was getting on track is because hard-liners in the Bush administration who seek regime change in North Korea have gained the upper hand. If that is the case, the situation is more than a little serious. Twice already we have seen what happens when hard-line American policy collides with an angry North Korean reaction.

The North Korean government has many weaknesses, but one has to be careful about the method and timing when it comes to taking it to task on certain things, so that it can accommodate and cope with what is said. Demanding the other guy yield and rashly applying pressure at a time when there is such deep distrust will only exacerbate the animosity and discord. The participating nations to the six-party process have an obligation to cooperate in having the talks reopen at the earliest date possible and in making sure the talks accomplish something. The unofficial meeting of the chief delegates from China and Korea is very significant for exploring ways to lessen the conflict between the U.S. and the North and brining momentum back to the six-party talks. The U.S. and the North need to respond favorably to the meeting by taking the attitude that they can meet directly to discuss and resolve any of their differences.

The Hankyoreh, 21 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]