(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on April 20)

Risky Game of Chicken: Both Koreas Ought to Calm Down, Regain Reason

It's hard to precisely predict what North Korean officials will tell their
southern counterparts when they meet in Gaeseong tomorrow.

Unfortunately, however, the widespread prediction in Seoul is Pyongyang will use
the first governmental meeting in more than a year to send an ultimatum to the
South to choose between continuous inter-Korean economic cooperation or
full-fledged participation in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative
(PSI).
Backing up such an inauspicious scenario is the North Korean military's harshest
rhetoric in 15 years, which reiterated it would regard the South's active joining
the initiative for maritime interdiction as a ``declaration of war,'' followed by
blunt blackmailing, a reminder that ``Seoul is less than 50 km away from the
Military Demarcation Line.''
This course of North Korean action itself was not unexpected, but its
rambunctious behavior is a little more than anticipated. Pyongyang is going back
to 1994, when a North Korean chief delegate stirred up a big trouble here by
threatening to turn Seoul into a ``sea of fire.''
We have advised the Lee Myung-bak administration against the upgraded
participation in the PSI, but North Korea's threat is certain to make it more
difficult ??? not easier ??? for Seoul to do so even if it wants to, which shows
the very nature of the game of chicken ??? one can hardly back off even when it
realizes the stupidity of what's at stake in the whole process. Those who have
better sense ??? and have much more to lose ??? are always to lose ??? and
actually win ??? in this suicidal game, and we believe it could be Seoul in this
case.
As to Seoul's decision on the PSI itself, it was neither timely nor effective ???
or even justifiable. President Lee says the expanded participation has little to
do with the North's recent rocket launch, but the coincidence appears far too
artificial. His aides say there would be little possibility of actual
interception of North Korean vessels in South Korean seas, which begs the
question, ``What is it for, then?'' Officials cite, most plausible of them all,
the policy of U.S. President Barack Obama to institutionalize the PSI as the real
reason, yet Washington has neither fixed a concrete vision nor asked for more
positive participation by Seoul.
While the benefits of increased participation are vague at best, the risks are
all too clear. If conservative hard-liners say they are sick and tired of North
Korean blackmail, that may be because they have not seen it materialize in
earnest so far.
Looking back, much of this started when the Lee administration decided to
``differentiate'' from its predecessors and ``cure Pyongyang's habits'' more than
a year ago. Now, the reclusive regime is acting more aggravated, and Seoul may
likely be reduced to a subordinate party at best or an alienated one at worst.
No lesser an official than President Lee can make this turnaround. If he does,
criticism will be temporary and from within, but praise will be far and wide.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)