Losing Momentum on Korea
"If a verifiable agreement along those lines could be completed, it would eliminate the threat
of North Korea's building missiles that can reach the United States. That in turn would reduce
the pressure on Washington to rush ahead with development of a missile defense system, one
of the Bush's administration's core defense goals. It would also end the North's current missile
exports to danger zones like Iran and Pakistan".
March 9, 2001
An Editorial from The New York Times
Regrettably, President Bush has decided for the time being not to renew
discussions with North Korea aimed at shutting down Pyongyang's development and sales of long-range missiles. Reaching acceptable agreements with the North is never easy, and the new administration is
entitled to take some time to develop its own strategy and goals.
But by suspending the constructive talks that were begun by the Clinton administration, Washington
has forfeited an opportunity to explore North Korea's true intentions. It has also complicated the challenges
facing South Korea, whose president, Kim Dae Jung, has been trying to coax the North from confrontation to diplomacy.
North Korea had offered the Clinton administration some of the essential elements of a missile deal.
But there was still a considerable way to go. Late last year the North proposed to halt further development and exports of its long-range missiles in exchange for food and fuel aid and a commitment by other countries
to launch North Korean space satellites.
If a verifiable agreement along those lines could be completed, it would eliminate the threat of North Korea's building missiles that can reach the United States. That in turn would reduce the pressure on
Washington to rush ahead with development of a missile defense system, one of the Bush's
administration's core defense goals. It would also end the North's current missile exports to danger
zones like Iran and Pakistan.
But acutely difficult issues remained unresolved as the Clinton presidency ended. North Korea has not yet
agreed to permit the international on-site inspections needed to verify its compliance. Nor has it agreed to
destroy the long-range missiles it already has or even to provide a detailed inventory of its current missile
arsenal. Washington would need such an inventory to determine whether new missiles are being added.
Most of the arms control agreements Washington negotiated with Moscow during the cold war were based on a long period of familiarity and mutual observation. There is no comparable history yet between the United States
and North Korea. There are also suspicions by some analysts that North Korea seeks only to buy time and extort Western compensation without really committing itself to a peaceful course.
Yet there have been encouraging signs, particularly in the past year, that North Korea is serious about
improving relations with South Korea and the West. The Bush administration appears still to be
debating its next moves on North Korea. It should carefully review the unresolved missile issues, then resume discussions with the North later this year in an effort to complete a sound agreement.
nytimes.com |
