The most pressing challenge facing the people of Northeast
Asia in the 21st Century is the forging of a durable peace on the
Korean Peninsula. But today, prospects for peace in the region
remain dim. North Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability,
and the United States’ reluctance to engage Pyongyang
in diplomatic negotiations, have created an impasse that could
quickly explode into a second Korean War. The Six Party Talks
holds out the hope that a “peaceful diplomatic solution” can be
forged in the near future. But the process of diplomatic dialogue
and resolution of the nuclear issue alone cannot dissipate
the threat of war. Even if a negotiated settlement is achieved, as
now seems increasingly possible but still far from certain,
implementation of any accord between the United States and
North Korea will prove extremely challenging. The fundamental
problem is neither the participants in the process, be it two,
four or six nations. Nor is it in the terms of any agreement.
Inevitably, successful implementation of any accord will
require mutual trust between the Washington and Pyongyang.
Building that trust began in 1994 with the first US-North Korea
nuclear negotiation and the forging of the Agreed Framework
of 1994. But that agreement, and the subsequent trust it fos-
tered, has now been rejected by both parties. If any accord is to
be successfully implemented and a durable peace built in
Northeast Asia, it will require nothing less than a radical transformation
of the region’s balance of power and network of
international relations. To many, this may seem a distant and
rather idealistic wish. Looking back over the past half century,
however, nurtures perspective and fosters hope that such a
transformation is indeed a realistic goal. After all, half a century
ago, the emergence of stability, prosperity and democracy in
the region then seemed wishful thinking.
The most pressing challenge facing the people of Northeast
Asia in the 21st Century is the forging of a durable peace on the
Korean Peninsula. But today, prospects for peace in the region
remain dim. North Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability,
and the United States’ reluctance to engage Pyongyang
in diplomatic negotiations, have created an impasse that could
quickly explode into a second Korean War. The Six Party Talks
holds out the hope that a “peaceful diplomatic solution” can be
forged in the near future. But the process of diplomatic dialogue
and resolution of the nuclear issue alone cannot dissipate
the threat of war. Even if a negotiated settlement is achieved, as
now seems increasingly possible but still far from certain,
implementation of any accord between the United States and
North Korea will prove extremely challenging. The fundamental
problem is neither the participants in the process, be it two,
four or six nations. Nor is it in the terms of any agreement.
Inevitably, successful implementation of any accord will
require mutual trust between the Washington and Pyongyang.
Building that trust began in 1994 with the first US-North Korea
nuclear negotiation and the forging of the Agreed Framework
of 1994. But that agreement, and the subsequent trust it fos-
tered, has now been rejected by both parties. If any accord is to
be successfully implemented and a durable peace built in
Northeast Asia, it will require nothing less than a radical transformation
of the region’s balance of power and network of
international relations. To many, this may seem a distant and
rather idealistic wish. Looking back over the past half century,
however, nurtures perspective and fosters hope that such a
transformation is indeed a realistic goal. After all, half a century
ago, the emergence of stability, prosperity and democracy in
the region then seemed wishful thinking.