U.S. Must Offer Security and Economic Aid in Return for Dismantlement of N. Korean Nuclear Program

Talk to North Korea directly, even in the context of the six-party talks. Verify a dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear program and ensure security, provide energy and economic aid in return, and take a carrot-and-stick approach in the process. Address anti-Americanism that has grown due to the U.S. unilateralism.

The U.S. based non-profit NGO Asia Foundation gave the above advice to the George W. Bush Administration in its report. The report, released on November 15, is called “America’s Role in Asia” and deals with both the American and Asian views.

The report was produced by a group of American and Asian experts with a moderate stance including the former Under Secretary of State Michael H. Armacost, the former Assistant Secretary of State J. Stapleton Roy, and Kim Kyong-won, president of the Institute of Social Sciences in Seoul.

The report that deals with Asian views pointed out a need for bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea, saying, “Direct talks between North Korea and the U.S. are unavoidable…because no one else but the top leader, Kim Jong Il, is capable of negotiating a deal with the U.S.” Considering, however, that the Bush administration is reluctant to open bilateral talks, it suggested “talking to North Korea directly, even in the context of six-party talks”.

“America’s Role in Asia: American Views” advised the Bush administration, in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue, to come up with feasible alternatives and refrain from unilateral diplomacy. The report said that the best option is to maintain the six-party talks to scrap the North Korean nuclear program in a verifiable manner, and offer North Korea security, normalization of the U.S-North Korea relations and energy aid in return.

The report also said that extreme situation such as acceptance of the nuclear weapons development of the North or regime change would be an obstacle to negotiation, and suggested using the combination of carrots and sticks.

It also said that the six-party talks should aim to establish a multinational security framework, as well as resolve the second North Korean nuclear crisis.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com