[Editorial] Opening of a new era for N.K.-U.S. relations

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's historic visit to Pyongyang has initiated a new era for the North Korea-U.S. relations. Secretary Albright's visit appears to make a breakthrough in resolving most of the pending issues that have impeded the normalization of the North Korea-U.S. relations. In view of North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il's sudden visit to the Baekhwawon, Pyongyang's State Guest House where Secretary Albright was staying, to hold a meeting between them twice, we suspect that there must have been some comprehensive package of agreements to make such a speculation possible.

Reportedly, they are making compromises by agreeing that Washington will render economic aids in lieu of Pyongyang's suspension of missile exports, and that the United States will assist North Korea's satellite launch in return for North Korea's renunciation of its long-range ballistic missiles developments which were known to have the potentials to strike the U.S. mainland.

In addition, other credible speculations have it that the initially negotiated establishment of liaison offices between the two nations will be elevated to set up, instead, the two countries' respective office of representatives. Also highly probable is Secretary Albright's assurance given to Chairman Kim about the removal of North Korea from the U.S. list of terror-sponsoring nations.

At this point in time, the prospects also appear very high and positive for U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to Pyongyang. Washington states that the time for President Clinton's visit will be decided after the report of Secretary Albright's visit to the North. But, the rumors have it that they agreed to make President Clinton's visit at the earliest possible date.

Needless to say, developments in the U.S. domestic circumstances will have some influence on the rapid progress in the North Korea-U.S. relations. For, we cannot ignore the fact that there are some forces of backlash in the United States against Washington's unprecedented move toward Pyongyang. In particular, Secretary Albright's some conducts in Pyongyang such as her visit to the hall the late Kim Il-Sung's coffin is laid, are creating no small amount of conservative backlash in the United States. Added to this is the forthcoming U.S. Presidential election which will be an important variable as to make us hard to clearly predict future directions of the North Korea-U.S. relations at this point.

Such uncertainties notwithstanding, we see no great difficulties in normalizing the North Korea-U.S. relations if they can make due efforts for the building of mutual trust and confidence, and if they show their unswerving belief that the strengthening of mutual trust will in the end serve their national interests. We have no doubt that such normalization of U.S.-North Korea relations will turn out conducive to positive developments in the peninsula.

Yet, there is not without our worries about the possibility of adverse development of the North Korea-U.S., no matter how remote this possibility may be; Pyongyang should not attempt to exploit the progress, it makes in the relations with Washington, for the furtherance of its interest in the South-North relations. Nor should its policy aim to altogether ignore the inter-Korean relations. For that matter, Washington should take precautions against such possibilities in its contacts with the North. Washington and Pyongyang must bear in mind that no meaningful progress in North Korea-U.S. relations will be possible without due consideration on sound developments in inter-Korean relations.