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Editorial: Tough moves get Korean nuke dispute nowhere
( 2003-07-12 13:47) (China Daily)
How to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula will have major
ramifications not only throughout the Peninsula but all of Northeast Asia.
The latest developments have indicated a possible escalation of the nuclear
crisis.
The United States has been deliberating on whether to enforce a
blockade against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) while
strengthening its forces stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK).
In
response, Pyongyang has threatened to do away with the constraints of its 1953
cease-fire agreement and retaliate upon any moves viewed as violating its
sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the related parties have also been busy
communicating and consulting with one another.
The DPRK-ROK
co-ordination of meetings between separated families were undertaken as planned.
Washington and Pyongyang agreed to resume talks on joint excavation of
the remains of US soldiers. After a phone conversation with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, US President George W. Bush expressed his support for Russia's
involvement in the multilateral talks on resolving the DPRK's nuclear issues. As
well, Wang Yi and Dai Bingguo, Chinese vice-foreign ministers, went to the
United States and Russia respectively to discuss the nuclear crisis on the
Korean Peninsula.
On the other side, the trilateral consultations
between the United States, Japan and the ROK ended with no substantial results,
indicating the disparities among the three on taking further hardline measures
against Pyongyang.
Washington's demand for the United Nations Security
Council to issue a statement denouncing Pyongyang's construction of nuclear
facilities was turned down.
All of these facts have demonstrated that
Washington's tough moves against Pyongyang can only intensify the contradiction
and could not gain the support from the majority of the international community.
Given the serious nature of this issue and the possible disastrous consequences,
a peaceful settlement through diplomatic channels is still perceived as the best
option.
If the nuclear issue can be handled properly, a new favourable
situation will be created for both the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and
regional security as a whole.
First, the relations between the DPRK and
the United States will become more stable, whether they return to the previous
1994 framework agreement or draw up a new pact following dialogue.
The
key points of the negotiation objectives for both sides involve Pyongyang
abandoning its nuclear plan and Washington providing the former with security
guarantees. Such an agreement can be reached through negotiations.
Consequently, the Pyongyang-Washington reconciliation then can
contribute to further developing their bilateral ties and creating favourable
conditions for the renewal of DPRK-Japan relations and the Korean Peninsula
peace process. Economic aid from the United States, Japan and the ROK will then
be channeled to the DPRK, moves that are conducive to the improvement and
stabilization of the DPRK's economy.
Second, the resolution of the
nuclear issue can serve as a learning experience and open channels for the
security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.
As this nuclear
issue is a problem between the DPRK and the United States, it can be finally
resolved only through the talks between those two nations.
However, the
international mediation and diplomatic efforts related with the nuclear issue
will also undoubtedly play a positive role in resolving this issue. That is
expected to help set up the security consultation mechanism in this region.
Through multilateral talks, the relevant parties can consult and co-operate
under the common objective of realizing nuclear disarmament and peace on the
Korean Peninsula, and make joint efforts in establishing an effective security
framework.
Disputes on Pyongyang's nuclear development occurred between the
DPRK and the United States 10 years ago. The two sides reached a nuclear
framework agreement in 1994 after negotiations, and their bilateral relations
gradually eased.
Since George W. Bush assumed the US presidency in 2001, the
favourable trend of development on the Peninsula created in 2000 has worsened
due to Washington's hard-line policy towards the DPRK.
Washington had
even designated Pyongyang as a part of the "axis of evil" after the September 11
terror attack.
Since Pyongyang's admission of its nuclear arms
development plan was exposed by Washington in October 2002 in the wake of US
Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly visit to the DPRK, the United States
has adopted a hardline position and refused to hold talks with Pyongyang unless
the latter scraps its nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, the DPRK is asking
for assurances that the United States will respect its security and sovereignty
first.
Such circumstances have done little but escalate tensions on the
Korean Peninsula.
To further complicate the situation, at the request of the
United States, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, an
international body whose executive board members include the European Union,
Japan, the ROK and the United States, decided to stop providing heavy oil to the
DPRK as of December 2002.
In response, Pyongyang announced in January
2003 to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, while indicating
that it had no intention to build nuclear weapons.
The attitudes of the
surrounding nations are also a key factor affecting the settlement of the
nuclear issue. In particular, as allies of the United States, the attitudes of
the ROK and Japan will have a significant influence on Washington's decision.
Seoul is asking Pyongyang to fulfill its obligations related to
international agreements and to withdraw its decision of reviving its nuclear
programme. In the meantime, Seoul is continuing to adhere to its policy of
seeking reconciliation with the DPRK.
Japan is in a more complicated
position. As a neighbouring country, it has been hoping for a peaceful
settlement of the nuclear issue. As an ally of the United States, it has to
support Washington's stance. Japan is insisting on playing an important part in
solving the nuclear issue by carrying out diplomatic activities and proposing
various solutions.
Russia supports the non-nuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula and the peaceful resolution of this issue, and is opposed to imposing
sanctions upon the DPRK to prevent the situation from further worsening.
The tense situation caused by the nuclear issue has already been a
serious setback for the peace process between the DPRK and the ROK. Though their
contacts have been maintained, their relations can hardly be further developed
due to the obstacle of the nuclear issue.
The normalization of relations
between Pyongyang and Tokyo has also been hindered. Pyongyang-Washington
dialogue has been suspended and their bilateral ties have stalled.
Regional stability will be at stake if the nuclear issue is prolonged.
First, the continually escalating DPRK-US tensions can ignite armed
conflicts, which will lead to disturbances in a larger scope.
Second,
though Washington expressed that it prefers a peaceful solution to the nuclear
issue, it has not excluded the possibility of resorting to military means.
Therefore, it is hard to predict by what means the nuclear issue will be
ultimately resolved.
Third, if the nuclear issue cannot be solved
properly, disarmament of the Korean Peninsula cannot be ensured. This could
result in an arms race in the region.
Therefore, it is in the interests of
all parties concerned to resolve this issue as early as possible through
peaceful means.
The Beijing talks between the DPRK, the United States
and China in April are widely perceived as a positive step forward in the right
direction.
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