Senator Hillary Clinton points to a student during a Q&A at the

at Ewha Woman's University in Seoul, Feb. 21

The Korea Times, South Korea

America to Pyongyang: Ignoring South Korea is a Fruitless Exercise

"It is imperative that these two long-time allies prove to the North the futility of its anachronistic policy of seeking direct talks with the United States while marginalizing the South. North Korea should no longer try to test the Barack Obama Administration. Its outdated tactics of brinkmanship and nuclear blackmail have proven a failure."

EDITORIAL

February 20, 2009

South Korea - The Korea Times - Original Article (English)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to South Korea has been a chance for Seoul and Washington to reaffirm their efforts to achieve the denuclearization of North Korea. Clinton and South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan sent a clear message to Pyongyang that they would not tolerate the communist state's development of nuclear weapons.

Such a message is not new, but it shows the two allies' firm stance against the North's nuclear ambitions amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It is sad that the Kim Jong-il regime is only stepping up its saber-rattling and nuclear-baiting in an apparent bid to draw attention from the new U.S. administration and extract more concessions from both Seoul and Washington.

On Friday, Yu and Clinton agreed to cooperate closely in order to prevent North Korea's reckless attempt to keep South Korea and the United States apart. It is imperative that these two long-time allies prove to the North the futility of its anachronistic policy of seeking direct talks with the United States while marginalizing the South.

In this regard, we welcome the agreement between the top diplomats on pushing for the "complete and verifiable'' dismantlement of the North's nuclear programs through the Six-Party talks. It's urgent that Seoul and Washington translate the accord into action and prod the world's last Stalinist state to return to the table and make good on commitments to denuclearize.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

'HILLARY CLINTON IN ASIA'

[Hoje Macau, Macau]

Clinton and Yu called on Pyongyang to refrain from taking provocative actions, ease tensions and move toward reconciliation and peace by returning to inter-Korean talks. The North Korean leadership should pay heed to the call, by doing its best to revive stalled Six-Party and South-North talks which have been suspended since President Lee Myung-bak, a South Korean conservative, took office in February 2008. [In this context, 'conservative' refers not only to fiscal affairs, but a hard line on dealing with North Korea].

Last week Clinton said that America is willing to normalize ties with Pyongyang if it abandons its nuclear program. She also said that the superpower is prepared to replace the decades-old armistice agreement on the peninsula [the agreement that ended the Korean War] with a permanent peace treaty. But the North is refusing to accept the conciliatory gestures. Instead, it is preparing to test-fire a long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile and also threatening to have an "all-out confrontation'' with the South.

North Korea should no longer try to test the Barack Obama Administration. Its outdated tactics of brinkmanship and nuclear blackmail have proven a failure. Pyongyang must realize that turning back the clock will lead only to self-destruction. The North potentially confronts an implosion, fueled by economic collapse and political uncertainty in light of the impending post-Kim Jong-il era.

Now the ball is in North Korea's court. Pyongyang must resume a dialogue with the South and sit with the disarmament negotiators of the United States and the other six-party nations. We hope the Kim Jong-il regime alters its approach so that it can enjoy economic aid, security guarantees and diplomatic incentives in return for denuclearization. This is certainly its best option.

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US February 21, 2:12pm]