A beginning in Beijing

CURTAIN finally came down on the six-party negotiations to resolve the issue of North Korea’s nuclear programme yesterday. However, the longest-ever negotiations in Beijing were followed up by more negotiations to hammer out a joint statement of principles for denuclearisation.

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Published: Mon 1 Aug 2005, 9:52 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 6:30 PM

In fact, these negotiations were still on at the time of writing, which perhaps goes to underline the delicate nature of these talks and the issue they are seeking to resolve. But regardless of what finally appears in the form of joint statement, there’s no reason to interpret the Beijing talks as failure.

The most positive outcome of the latest diplomatic initiative has been the willingness of the US and North Korea to directly engage each other. If Pyongyang is at last prepared to see reason and cooperate with the international community, some credit should go to these direct encounters between the two sides.

On the final day of the talks, North Korea signalled it was prepared to return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime and subject its nuclear programme, which makes its neighbours extremely nervous and Washington angry, to international inspections.

How far the North Korea will go to address the international concerns will become clear in the days and months to come. While Pyongyang’s current cooperation may have been inspired by several factors including the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country thanks to food shortage and drought, it is in the international community’s interest to continue the dialogue with the regime, whatever be the Dear Leader’s motives.


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