Scholar Urges U.S. to Talk to North

On October 18, Thomas Schelling, a professor at the University of Maryland who won the Nobel Prize in Economic Science last year, anticipated that, “Even in case North Korea conducts a second nuclear test, chances are low that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty system would crumble.”

In a lecture delivered during the “World Knowledge Forum 2006,” held on October 18 at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel located at Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Schelling said, “Although there have been six or seven occasions since the atomic bombing on Hiroshima in which nuclear arms could have been used effectively, the international society preserved the traditional ‘nuclear taboo.’ As for this time as well, the NPT system will stay intact as long as countries including the U.S. and South Korea keep their faith in the NPT system.”

In addition, while few are foreseeing the six-party talks to resume, Schelling urged the Bush administration to adopt a more active stance for dialogues. He argued that, “Since there’s nothing more dangerous than a war, Washington should overcome their ideas [not to have a direct talk with North Korea] if there are chances to break the deadlock.”

Attending the same forum, George Soros, the chairman of Soros Fund Management LLC, expressed his thoughts through a lecture and a press meeting that, “North Korea is taking extreme measures, even going against China, because they are so badly cornered. I don’t think that the aid provided them economic resources for the nuclear test.” He also claimed that, “The best way to change the North Korean regime is not imposing threats on them, but stopping it.”

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