by Donald Rosenberry

Created on: June 15, 2009

The notion of holding two party talks with North Korea is much more complicated than one might expect. While it might seem to be a simple question, the response is quite complex. The issue is really about credibility. Since the Korean War; the plight of the North Korean people has been tragic. They have been sacrificed to the maintenance of the personality cult of their leader. For Kim Jong Il and his cronies, the stability of the regime is the ultimate priority, maintained through draconian human measures and the near total prevention of information flow to the people.

Consecutive US administrations have concluded that it is in the best interest of the global community to hold only multinational talks which include the other major players: Russia, Japan, South Korea and China. Each of the parties has a stake in the outcome. Although they don't want to publicly announce it, all believe in the eventual demise of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Because of their history, China has continued to use its influence to moderate world reaction to North Korea's antics, while South Korea has alternately used the carrot and stick approach to its northern neighbor. Unfortunately, the previous South Korean administrations "Sunshine" approach has ended without substantial impact. Japan has always had a problem with North Korea, actually both Koreas. While the Japanese are not without fault in the historical relationship, the recent interactions between the nations tend to lean morally towards the Japanese, considering their tolerance of naval interaction and the kidnappings of Japanese nationals by the North Korean State.

What then should the world make of the current affairs of North Korea? Nearly every nation on earth opposed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK), intention to fire another Taepo Dong long range missile across Japan. With the DPRK in the throes of economic disaster and repeatedly enduring famine, why would they do something so provocative and expensive? Why would "The Dear Leader" take the chance of further alienating the world? He had to know the world would condemn him and further tighten the political screws on his already poor nation. Of course he was aware. He was counting on it. He has been vilified by the west for most of his years as the head of the North Korean State. The west has publicly dismissed him and his government as "mad" and he was famously included in the "Axis of Evil." The reality of this

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