(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Nov. 13)

Clear-eyed on N.K.

The U.S. special envoy to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, is to travel to Pyongyang
before the end of the year.

North Korea offered an invitation for Bosworth to visit
the country a few months ago and Washington, after extensive consultations with its
partners in the region, has decided to accept the invitation, said Philip Crowley,
assistant secretary of state, in announcing the senior diplomat's trip.

After abruptly quitting the six-party process aimed at North Korean denuclearization
earlier this year, Pyongyang conducted a second nuclear test, launched a succession
of missiles and took actions to reverse the disabling of its nuclear facility at
Yongbyon.

When those blatantly hostile acts did not result in the international community
acquiescing to its demands - the United Nations, rather, imposed stricter sanctions,
which are being vigorously enforced by the international community - the leadership
in Pyongyang suddenly switched gear and started its so-called "charm offensive."
North Korea extended an invitation to Bosworth and early last month North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il told the visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that it wanted
bilateral talks with the United States and may return to the six-party talks if
those talks are successful.

Following the recent trip to the United States by Ri Gun - North Korea's top nuclear
negotiator - on which he met with his U.S. counterparts, reports emerged that two
rounds of direct talks between the United States and the communist state will be
held before North Korea returns to the six-party process.

Crowley, during the press briefing announcing Bosworth's Pyongyang visit, sought to
make clear that the upcoming trip is not part of the bilateral talks that Pyongyang
has been demanding. "This is not the beginning of a bilateral dialogue. That is
separate from the six-party process," he said.

Emphasizing that Bosworth's talks in Pyongyang will take place in the context of the
six-party talks, Crowley said, "From our standpoint, the purpose will be to
facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks and to secure North Korea's
reaffirmation of the September 2005 joint statement."

The United States is sending a clear message that it does not view the Bosworth trip
as the beginning of U.S.-N.K. bilateral talks. However, Pyongyang most likely views
this as the beginning of exactly that, and probably harbors different expectations.

Two sides coming to a meeting with different purposes does not bode well for its
outcome. However, the decision to engage with each other is a positive step forward.
Bosworth should use the trip to get Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks and
to recommit to the denuclearization process. The United States should be wary of
being "charmed" into giving in to surprise North Korean demands when the two sides
meet.

(END)