Text Fwd: [Hankyoreh Editorial] Reaffirming efforts to resolve the N. Korea nuclear issue

Text Fwd: [Editorial] Reaffirming efforts to resolve the N. Korea nuclear issue
Posted on : May.26,2009 12:37 KST Modified on : May.27,2009 12:30 KST

North Korea pushed through with an underground nuclear test yesterday morning. Its brinkmanship strategy has reached new heights and has been strengthening over the last couple of months with the termination of the nuclear disablement process and the restart of fuel rod reprocessing. If the situation does not change, it could lead to additional provocations.

This nuclear test was not unexpected. North Korea issued a warning through a Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statement on April 29 that it would conduct a nuclear test, test launch an intercontinental ballistic missile or build a light water reactor. At the time, North Korea placed unrealistic conditions on its threat, demanding an immediate apology from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for issuing a president’s statement condemning North Korea’s rocket launch. It used this to justify pushing through with the nuclear test. Nevertheless, yesterday’s nuclear test seemed sudden. More than anything, the timing seemed sudden. Experts had been predicting it would conduct the test sometime after or between June and July.

As a result of North Korea’s nuclear test and failure to heed the international community’s unanimous warnings,　discussion of sanctions have now become unavoidable. The test was a frontal violation of UNSC Resolution 1718 adopted in after North Korea’s first nuclear test in October 2006. The resolution condemns that test,　and imposes sanctions and strict demands on North Korea to not to conduct further nuclear tests. Despite full awareness of these demands, North Korea conducted a nuclear test anyway. It is appropriate for North Korea to now take responsibility. 　

It is also time to take a serious look at how the situation has come to this. U.S. officials in Obama’s administration have adopted a big picture approach favoring direct comprehensive negotiations with North Korea, but they have been dillydallying in formulating concrete plans. One could say that North Korea’s rocket launch has a negative effect on U.S. policies, but it is also true that the easygoing U.S. attitude played a part in the deteriorating situation. In particular, several members of the U.S. government have been demonstrating an attitude of benign neglect, believing that once North Korea has played all its cards, it would come forth for talks. This means that the U.S. seemed to consider the nuclear test as a fait accompli, and not a thing to be prevented through negotiations.

It is clear that one of the major objectives in North Korea’s pledge to strengthen its nuclear deterrent is to boost its negotiating strength. However, negotiations to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue cannot happen without effort. An appropriate framework for talks is needed and participating nations need to possess firm intentions. An approach of benign neglect that is not accompanied by a comprehensive plan makes launching negotiations difficult. Waiting indefinitely is not a satisfactory approach. Things become difficult to reverse once measures are taken that worsen the situation.

Efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue have now reached a clear turning point. We need to move quickly towards putting a concrete negotiating plan together in place of empty rhetoric of negotiations combined with pressure on North Korea. In particular, efforts need to be made before next month’s summit between South Korea and the U.S. The U.S. must act immediately after it has finished reviewing and developing its new North Korea policy, and South Korea must regain a leading role in efforts to resolve the nuclear issue and inter-Korean relations. Everyone loses if they just stand on the sidelines and neglect the situation like they are now.

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