PSPD in English Peace/Disarmament 2004-03-02   544

Six-Way Talks Fail To Make Progress

Demonstrates the limitations of the ROK-US alliance, urgent need for South Korea to step in as a mediator

The second round of the Six-Party Talks resumed after a long stalemate and ended without showing any progress. A breakthrough to the North Korean nuclear crisis had been expected. However, only the basic notion that the conflict should be solved on peaceful terms was mutually recognized without any prospective resolution. Neither North Korea nor the United States tried to further negotiations. Furthermore, it is very disappointing that negotiations were quickly wrapped up in order to ensure that conditions did not worsen.

Above all, agreement on crucial resolutions, which can be an important starting point to resolve the nuclear crisis of North Korea, did not emerge. Specific resolutions to be discussed by North Korea and the United States had already been suggested before the talks. However, neither North Korea’s declaration to dismantle all nuclear weapons nor America’s declaration to guarantee North Korea’s national security were achieved. Thus, the fundamental rule on “Nuclear Dismantlement vs. Compensation” was not accomplished.

Furthermore, neither North Korea nor the United States showed any flexibility in reaching a conclusion. America’s attitude toward multilateral negotiations was very far from resolving the problem actively. Without suggesting any tangible solutions, Washington maintained its firm attitude demanding CVID and that Pyongyang differentiate nuclear technology between peaceful and military uses. Both Pyongyang and Washington did not go any further from their current positions, rather than striving for a trust-filled solution to clear up suspicion of HEUP.

In this context, it is very hard to grant meaningful remark on the Chairman statement by China. It is based merely on a mutually tuned agreement continuing the mood of dialogue. Once again, the importance of a peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear crisis has again reemerged and it is hard to expect a substantial role of working groups in absence of a fundamental agreement.

Seoul itself was out of its league to compensate for the gap between North Korea and the United States. Seoul expressed a positive view in emphasizing South Korea’s leading role, however, only to draw Washington’s understanding of energy aid in the case of dismantling nuclear facilities as a precondition to the abandonment of nuclear weapons, which has been an initiative that the government has emphasized more than anything else. The South Korea-US-Japan alliance did not function towards a more constructive path either. As a result, if negotiation within the South Korea-US-Japan alliance is diluted, it is of concern that South Korea’s energy aid to North Korea is unlikely to achieve anything.

The second round of the Six-Party Talks explicitly showed the limitations of the South Korea-US alliance in dealing with North Korea’s nuclear crisis. It was a mistake for the government to be satisfied with the outcome of negotiations and it has expected too much from the ROK-US alliance. The reality is that we cannot expect any progress, although we promised to continue the talks. We cannot be satisfied merely with the continuance of multilateral talks. It is not helpful to stay in a longer period of stalemate. It will especially worsen, unless it is not solved within this year due to the upcoming general elections of United States. After all, South Korea has the power to be a mediator between North Korea and the United States. South Korea has depended solely on ROK-US alliance. A more decisive negotiation strategy is required. A more independent vision in diplomacy to change the attitude of North Korea and the United States is required.

Center for Peace and Disarmament

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