Six-nation efforts for North Korea's denuclearization are likely to take a new twist as the United States disclosed evidence that North Korea helped Syria build a nuclear reactor that was destroyed by an Israeli air raid last September. The suspected nuclear connection between Pyongyang and Damascus has clouded the six-party talks over the last seven months although Washington kept mum on the proliferation allegations. Friday, the United States broke the long silence and revealed video clips showing the North Korea-Syria cooperation for the reactor.
U.S. and South Korean officials are apparently trying to minimize the fallout of the disclosure as it might anger the precarious North and derail the future course of action for its complete, verifiable and irrevocable denuclearization. Syria immediately denied the U.S. allegations that it was involved in a clandestine nuclear program with North Korea. However, the North has yet to respond. Pyongyang seems to take a cautious approach toward the proliferation claims although it has repeatedly denied any nuclear collaboration with Damascus.
Especially, attention is focused on what steps the reclusive communist country will take after it agreed with the U.S. to disclose its nuclear activities in negotiations held in Singapore early this month. There are concerns that the North might react negatively to the U.S. revelation, considering its outdated brinkmanship tactics. In addition, conservatives in the Washington establishment might raise their voice against North Korea by publicizing the isolated country's nuclear proliferation. And no one can rule out the possibility of the United States turning back to its hard-line stance.
In this situation, all the concerned parties in the six-nation talks should make the utmost effort to prevent the North denuclearization process from developing into catastrophe. It is hard for North Korea to deny the U.S. disclosure as American intelligence officials presented the proliferation evidence. It would be better for Pyongyang to frankly admit to the Syrian connection and promise to move toward nonproliferation. What's more important is that North Korea should build trust in the international community by taking proactive steps to denuclearization.
The six-party members ― the United States, two Koreas, China, Russia and Japan ― are required to step up their verification of the North's nuclear disarmament. However, they cannot waste too much time on the North's past activities, including the Syrian link or uranium enrichment programs. Thus, the Bush administration now concentrates on the plutonium issue. According to sources, the North intends to declare 25 kilograms of weapons-grade plutonium, far short of U.S. expectation.
Pyongyang ought to give up efforts, if any, to hide any nuclear material. Now the ball is in North Korea's court. We hope it will make sincere efforts toward denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Only after that can the impoverished country enjoy benefits in terms of security, diplomacy and economy from the United States, South Korea and other countries.