ASIAN NEWS, OPINION: North Korean Nuclear Crisis and the Six-party Talks
By Angie Zhang
Since the turn of last year, the whole world has kept its eyes peeled for developments in the North Korea nuclear crisis. The international community didn't hide its astonishment when North Korea announced that it had a capacity of developing nuclear weapons. A poverty-stricken country "bearing years of sanctions" abruptly claimed its ambition to produce weapons-grade nuclear fuel and took developing nuclear weapons as an effective way to safeguard its sovereignty, while the world took it as a great menace to worldwide security.
Usually, faced with pressure from economic giants, poor countries incline to take extreme action as a call for attention, just like North Korea, who carries out a deterrent policy developing nuclear weapons. This can also explain why so many poor countries become breeding-grounds of terrorism. North Korea needs more help and care from the whole world; it is eager to be accepted as a member of the international community.
Many rounds of six-party talks have now been held in Beijing. This is said to be a good foundation upon which to build in future rounds. All sides say they are hoping for an acceptable resolution through these talks, but the fact is they are not as constructive as people feel they are; no agreements have been reached and the issue remains unresolved.
North Korea stated its long-standing position that it is willing to end its nuclear ambitions in exchange for a security guarantee, energy assistance, and diplomatic recognition from the United States. It will not give up its nuclear programs without a fight. The talks may turn out to be only a temporary break in the crisis, with North Korea returning to its brinkmanship tactics and moving toward a more robust nuclear weapons capability.
America has remained steadfast in its stance that North Korea must first act to verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programs. Nuclear proliferation beyond the Korean peninsula, especially to terrorist groups, will not be tolerated.
Thus, I am not optimistic about the functioning of talks when neither side has any intention of giving way to the other on the core issues.
Since the turn of last year, the whole world has kept its eyes peeled for developments in the North Korea nuclear crisis. The international community didn't hide its astonishment when North Korea announced that it had a capacity of developing nuclear weapons. A poverty-stricken country "bearing years of sanctions" abruptly claimed its ambition to produce weapons-grade nuclear fuel and took developing nuclear weapons as an effective way to safeguard its sovereignty, while the world took it as a great menace to worldwide security.
Usually, faced with pressure from economic giants, poor countries incline to take extreme action as a call for attention, just like North Korea, who carries out a deterrent policy developing nuclear weapons. This can also explain why so many poor countries become breeding-grounds of terrorism. North Korea needs more help and care from the whole world; it is eager to be accepted as a member of the international community.
Many rounds of six-party talks have now been held in Beijing. This is said to be a good foundation upon which to build in future rounds. All sides say they are hoping for an acceptable resolution through these talks, but the fact is they are not as constructive as people feel they are; no agreements have been reached and the issue remains unresolved.
North Korea stated its long-standing position that it is willing to end its nuclear ambitions in exchange for a security guarantee, energy assistance, and diplomatic recognition from the United States. It will not give up its nuclear programs without a fight. The talks may turn out to be only a temporary break in the crisis, with North Korea returning to its brinkmanship tactics and moving toward a more robust nuclear weapons capability.
America has remained steadfast in its stance that North Korea must first act to verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programs. Nuclear proliferation beyond the Korean peninsula, especially to terrorist groups, will not be tolerated.
Thus, I am not optimistic about the functioning of talks when neither side has any intention of giving way to the other on the core issues.
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