Pyongyang steps out

Pyongyang steps out

Last week's summit between the leaders of South Korea and North Korea piles more hope on the chances for peace and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. There are plenty of hurdles left, however, and Pyongyang must work hard to leave behind its lamentable record of resorting to bait-and-switch tactics. But what is known and sensed from the talks between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un provides optimism. North Korea may finally be ready to accept the invitation to emerge as part of the responsible world community.

It is sobering to realise that this de facto change in attitude and mood on the peninsula began just a year ago. Then, US President Donald Trump, at the United Nations, berated "little rocket man". In return, and even more colourfully, Mr Kim personally described Mr Trump in his country's official media as a "mentally deranged US dotard".

Nine months later, these two were toasting each other at an extremely cordial and unprecedented meeting in Singapore. Mr Kim pledged to "denuclearise", meaning discard his nuclear arsenal along with the intercontinental missiles that could deliver them. There was no deadline given for this. Pessimists predicted that the North Korean dictator would quickly issue a list of demands for gifts, aid and political changes before he acted, just like the previous two dictators -- regime founder Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il. Optimists believed there would be hard bargaining and measured steps towards Korean disarmament.

The Moon-Kim summit provided grist for both views. Mr Kim told Mr Moon he intends to permanently dismantle a missile engine test site and launch pad in the presence of international supervision. That is a major step, particularly when North Korea already has got rid of its only nuclear test site. But on the other side of the ledger, Mr Kim also told the South Korean leader he has some demands to make of Washington, but did not outline them.

The optimistic -- and civilised -- view prevails. Total peace in Korea has a way to go yet. The North Korean leader told Mr Moon he wants a definitive end to the Korean War. That conflict is technically in a state of heavily armed ceasefire, or armistice. This is an issue of prime interest to Thailand. This country was a belligerent in the Korean war, and has high hopes that the Koreas, the United Nations and the United States can officially end it. Before Mr Kim, no North Korean even dared to broach this topic, let alone try to lead the effort.

North Korea has been a hermit nation since its founding. It has repeatedly and violently refused to take part in normal events of the global community. Under Mr Kim, this is ending. No current evidence exists that Pyongyang has continued the terrorism that Kim Jong-il used so often, including in our region. Kim Jong-un is, for the moment at least, retaining his nuclear stockpile. More and more, however, his claim that this is a self-defence strategy appears to hold water.

Mr Kim, according to Mr Moon, now wants a second, personal meeting with Mr Trump. The US leader has been non-committal about this.

His secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said on Sunday: "There is a long ways to go to get Chairman Kim to live up to his commitment" to disarm. But Mr Trump has maintained high optimism that further progress is at hand.

Mr Trump was to receive a personal letter from Mr Kim this morning Thailand time. It will be delivered in person at the United Nations by Mr Moon. Mr Trump tweeted last week that all these developments, including the continued return of the remains of US war dead, were "very exciting". About that, he is correct. North Korea, through Mr Kim, is presenting a new face to the world. It is a very welcome policy that must be further encouraged.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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