North Korea and the European Union (EU) will start their third
                                  political dialogue in Pyongyang from today. The meeting, to take
                                  place in the reclusive country for the first time since the initiation of
                                  the annual talks in 1998, attracts our interest in that the two sides
                                  are expected to have in-depth negotiations to further improve their
                                  relations.

                                  The foreign ministers of EU member nations already aligned
                                  themselves to support the rising conciliatory mood between South
                                  and North Korea as a positive sign expediting peace and stability on
                                  the Korean peninsula.

                                  The EU foreign ministers also made it clear that they are ready to
                                  establish diplomatic relations with North Korea when and if the
                                  Stalinist nation shows willingness to renounce the development of
                                  weapons of mass destruction and improve the human rights
                                  situation in the country. That is why the coming talks in Pyongyang
                                  are expected to yield fruitful results in terms of setting a groundwork
                                  needed for normalizing relations between the North and EU nations.

                                  It was during the third Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Seoul last
                                  month when the European nations expressed their willingness to
                                  establish diplomatic ties with North Korea. Britain, France and
                                  Germany, the mainstay countries of the EU, were particularly
                                  optimistic in improving the relationship with North Korea. Six of the
                                  15 EU nations, including Sweden, Denmark, Austria, already maintain
                                  diplomatic ties with the North. But, nine others involving the three
                                  pillar nations have yet to normalize ties. North Korea has reacted
                                  positively to the move by announcing that they welcome the peace
                                  overture of the European countries toward them.

                                  The recent rapprochement between the two Koreas, highlighted by
                                  the South-North summit last June, must have contributed greatly to
                                  prompting the European nations to change their attitude toward the
                                  North. Until recently, the attitudes of European nations toward the
                                  North were rigid due mainly to North's unwarranted missile
                                  development and state-sponsored terrorism. We welcome the
                                  burgeoning sign of development as it is bound to expedite North
                                  Korea's will to become a responsible member of the international
                                  community. The improvement of the relationship between the North
                                  and EU nations is also expected to cause a wind of change in North
                                  Korean society which is tightly closed to the outside world.

                                  Actually, North Korea has been involved in energetic diplomatic
                                  activities aimed at the European nations since early this year. It also
                                  sent diplomatic overtures to Canada and Kuwait while establishing
                                  normal ties with the Philippines and Australia earlier this year. Some
                                  analysts saw the North's diplomatic flurry as a move to break itself
                                  away from its image as one of the world's most politically reclusive
                                  states while others considered it an effort to extract as much
                                  assistance as possible from the international community.

                                  Furthermore, Pyongyang surprised many observers last January
                                  when it established diplomatic relations with Italy, also a member of
                                  EU. The expansion of North Korean diplomatic ties with Western
                                  nations is sure to further help develop the South-North
                                  reconciliation. It will also help advance the establishment of the
                                  diplomatic relationship between North Korea and the U.S as well as
                                  North Korea and Japan, creating a positive impact on Northeast Asia
                                  as a whole.

                                  Primary emphasis in the coming talks is expected to be placed on
                                  setting up liaison offices in both Pyongyang and Brussels where the
                                  EU headquarters is located, along with discussion on ways of
                                  expanding economic cooperation aimed at relieving the North's
                                  food shortage. The lingering suspicions regarding North Korea's
                                  nuclear weapon development and human rights situation will also be
                                  discussed during the talks, though no headway is expected.

                                  The EU nations, however, are asked to keep in mind the fact that an
                                  early establishment of diplomatic ties with the North will contribute to
                                  solving the outstanding problems at the earliest possible date.
                                  Admitting North Korea as a full-fledged member into the international
                                  community is the most plausible means of motivating the totalitarian
                                  state to act in accordance with international norms and standards.

                                  Our government is also obliged to make all available efforts to
                                  create an atmosphere conducive to early realization of normal
                                  relations between the concerned parties. In a sense, that is the
                                  consummation of the Sunshine Policy being pursued by President
                                  Kim Dae-jung in terms of making North Korea a reliable partner with
                                  major Western countries.

                                  Indeed, it is in the interest of North Korea to improve relations with
                                  such major European nations as Britain, Germany and France. It is a
                                  chance for the North to dispel its dark image of the past. For the
                                  North, the alignment of laws and maintenance of transparency in
                                  carrying out its economic policies are also needed to encourage
                                  investment and economic cooperation from the European nations.
                                  North Korea holds the key to accelerating the improvement of
                                  relations with the EU nations. Its quest for reform and openness
                                  along with renouncement of its nuclear and missile program will
                                  serve as a catalyst toward this end.

contributed by The KoreaTimes
 

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