North Korean despot Kim Jong-un applauds as he leaves Pyongyang's

Kumsusan Memorial Palace after attending a military parade in honor of

the 70th birthday of his late father, Kim Jong-il.

News, Switzerland

Pyongyang Makes a Play for Direct Ties with Americans

"Economic reasons may have been decisive. North Korean manufacturing, exemplary a few decades ago, is in ruins, as is its collectivized agriculture. Six million - especially children, mothers and the elderly - are hungry. … Direct talks, security guarantees, and diplomatic relations with their arch and class enemy, the United States - these have been North Korea’s actual goals for forever and a day."

By Peter Achten                                        

Translated By Stephanie Martin

March 7, 2012

Switzerland - News - Original Article (German)

In both Washington and Pyongyang, it was confirmed: After a long diplomatic ice age, talks between North Korea and the U.S. have yielded initial results. Policy makers and experts are optimistic, with some calling it a “breakthrough." But caution is advised.

North Korea is temporarily suspending uranium enrichment at its nuclear plant in Yongbyon, in addition to a halt of atomic bomb and long-range missile tests. Furthermore, International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA) inspectors are to be readmitted to the country to monitor the moratorium. In return, the United States intends to deliver 240,000 tons of food for millions of starving North Koreans. The American government has also offered talks on lifting financial and economic sanctions.

After a nearly three-year diplomatic stalemate, what was achieved by the negotiating parties in Beijing appears to have led to a “breakthrough." But the agreement that was reached seems more like "déjà-vu." Because since the beginning of talks in 1994, and the start of Six-Party Talks in 2003 in Beijing, (comprising North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States), there have been repeated “breakthroughs" on the North Korea nuclear program. And every time, North Korea has promised everything and delivered on little or nothing.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

Six years ago, Pyongyang even dropped a "bombshell": it had detonated its first small atomic bomb - if indeed it was a bomb. Two years ago, after North Korea unilaterally walked out of the Six-Party talks, a second device was detonated. "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il, who died last December, was a master of diplomacy. He had set the tone for talks since the 1994 death of his father, the country’s founder and “Eternal President" Kim Il-sung. In the year 2000, he managed to convince South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to travel to North Korea, where the South Korean leader, despite bringing along half a billion dollars, sought in vain to realize his "Sunshine Policy."

Until the end, Kim Jong-il was a skilled negotiator. His winning trump card was always the North's nuclear program. He is even said to have designed the current moratorium shortly before his death. His youngest son and successor, “Young General" Kim Jong-un, who is just shy of 30 years old, is now apparently following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The outcome of the talks is at least an indication of continuity, in a positive, but also in a negative sense.

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The initial reactions were positive, of course. A North Korean spokesperson spoke of mutual interests, preserving peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, improving bilateral relations, and denuclearization through dialogue and negotiation. The American side, rendered wise by years of experience, was more skeptical. Despite “profound concerns," a spokeswoman for the U.S. government said “important, if limited, progress" has been achieved. Naturally, the Chinese Foreign Ministry welcomed the deal. The South Korean response, on the other hand, was more restrained, as President Lee Myung-bak, after the failure of his predecessor’s "Sunshine Policy," has for the past four years taken a hard line toward the North. Finally, Japan simply called for words to be followed by “deeds."

Why now? Economic reasons may have been decisive. North Korean manufacturing, exemplary a few decades ago, is in ruins, as is its collectivized agriculture. North Korea’s population (23 million) suffers from food shortages. Six million - especially children, mothers and the elderly - are hungry. The country has never fully recovered from the great famine that caused between one and two million deaths during the second half of the 1990s. As a result, North Korea is still on an IV drip of international aid.

In addition, April 15th marks the 100th birthday of Kim Il-sung, demigod and supreme father of the nation. For the centennial celebration, the government, now led by grandson Kim Jong-un, has promised prosperity and progress. The American food aid will come right on cue.

Direct talks, security guarantees, and diplomatic relations with their arch and class enemy, the United States - these have been North Korea’s actual goals for forever and a day. First under Kim Jong-il and now under his son Kim Jong-un.