The complicated and elusive relationship between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Untied States weighs heavily on nuclear disarmament on the Korean Peninsula.
The US decision on Saturday to remove the DPRK from the blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism is expected to help the six-party talks on the DPRK's denuclearization.
But it is too early to predict plain sailing for the talks.
DPRK-US relations have always had troubles galore. While announcing the decision to drop the DPRK from the "axis of evil," US officials warned that the country would return to the list if it does not comply with the nuclear inspections. And they made it clear that the country would not see any immediate benefit because it is punished under other programs.
The US decision was one of the concrete steps consistent with the "action for action" principle of the six-party talks. The DPRK has agreed to accept the verification plan and immediately resume disabling its main plutonium facility.
What does the delisting mean for the DPRK?
The US put the DPRK on the list of states that sponsor terrorism for 20 years. The DPRK was on the list every time the US State Department published its annual report on world terrorist activities. The list has effectively blocked the DPRK from being able to obtain low-interest loans from international lending agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, let alone weapons.
The DPRK's removal from the list is one of the political compensations which will invalidate some of the US economic sanctions on the country.
As a result, the DPRK will enjoy more space in terms of trade, investment and finance. More specifically, the international financial institutions will have access to the country; limitations on foreign trade with and investment in the DPRK will be lifted to some extent; US assets in the country would be unfrozen; and DPRK products might enter the US market.
All in all, the new development is crucial to the DPRK's economy.
It is a new turn for a better relationship between the two countries. For the US it is a clear step back from its past confrontational rhetoric; to encourage the US to end enmity toward it, the DPRK has agreed again on the verification plan.
Hopefully, it will improve the prospects for diplomatic normalization between the DPRK and the US as well as for the next round of the nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the US.
These are not easy negotiations. On the way each side criticized the other for failing to live up to earlier commitments. Both need to be patient and have foresight.
(China Daily October 13, 2008)
