Posted on: Tuesday, June 12, 2001

Editorial
North Korea policy finally back on track

After an early stumble, it appears the Bush administration is back on track with America's policy toward North Korea.

One of the first foreign policy statements out of President Bush's mouth was his declaration that dialogue with the reclusive and erratic North Korean government would be suspended pending a thorough review of the process. At the time, he said North Korea could not be trusted.

This statement, made during the Washington visit of South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, was an embarrassing and unnecessary rebuff to Kim and his politically daring "sunshine policy" toward the North.

Well, the review is over and apparently the more pragmatic State Department has prevailed over tougher National Security Agency and Pentagon skeptics about North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Il.

The United States has every reason to be suspicious of North Korea and its motives. It maintains a huge army, ready to strike at any moment against democratic South Korea. It continues its missile development program, creating new threats to its neighbors in Asia and as potentially far away as Alaska and Hawai'i.

All of this is clearly worrisome. But boxing North Korea in and refusing to talk will only increase the paranoia of its leadership. President Kim is correct: The only cure for this darkness is sunshine