If reports from some U.S. and Japanese media are true, Washington will likely drop Pyongyang from its terrorism blacklist soon.
We hope they are right and welcome the development, while offering praises to both the United States and North Korea for their cooperation and compromise in removing another stumbling block in the way to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
This has become possible, as doves in Washington and Pyongyang were able to persuade or outmaneuver their respective hawks and stick to the ``action-for-action" formula agreed at the six-party talks. The two sides, particularly North Korea, are urged to maintain this spirit and attitude in the postponed inspection of uranium plants and its presumed proliferation to some Middle East countries.
North Korean leaders should have no illusions that the progress owes to their recent diplomatic brinkmanship, and immediately resume the disabling process as well as bring back the International Atomic Energy Agency officials. The stop-and-go process has gone on too long already to be repeated.
Actually, international media outlets were all ears yesterday, the 63rd anniversary of North Korea's long-reigning Workers' Party, because of two possible big pieces of news ― whether Kim Jong-il will attend a ceremony, breaking his 56-day disappearance from the public gaze; and whether the North will keep test-firing missiles. All this is just another pitiable reminder of the lack of predictability and transparency in the isolationist regime.
Kim's health prognosis still remains anyone's guess, with reports varying widely from full recovery to death. Though a big factor in regional politics, the issue is also beyond anybody's advice or wishes.
As far as the repeated missile launch is concerned, however, the communist state should think twice. Pyongyang seems to have no serious intention of threat or provocation, as the firing of these short-range missiles are mostly for military exercise or demonstration for the domestic audience in the lead up to one of its biggest holidays.
Still, the timing couldn't be worse, as most other countries are now engrossed in solving the global economic crisis. The biggest victim is of course its southern neighbor, by dealing additional blows to the sovereign credit rating from the aspect of security.
Equally problematic is the North Korean Navy's threat of another maritime clash due to what it claims are repeated violations of its waters by South Korean warships, an allegation flatly denied by its southern counterpart.
Pyongyang's intention behind this warning is uncertain ― it is either an attempt to redraw the sea border or to build up pressure on the anti-North Korean administration of President Lee Myung-bak. Whatever the case, North Korea should stop military threats and turn to dialogue to solve any inter-Korean issues. Military clashes can escalate to situations beyond the control of both Koreas now that their relationship has hit the lowest point in a decade.
Some South Korean rightist groups' dropping of anti-Kim Jong-il leaflets on his party's very birthday was not very desirable in this regard, either.
This is a time for extending the hands of reconciliation by both Koreas, not the calling of names or exchanging of threats and accusations. The denuclearization clock could stop at times before restarting but it must never be allowed to go backward. Also, the biggest ― if not the only ― victims of creating dark clouds of military confrontation over this peninsula are the two Koreas.