No longer a state sponsor of terrorism

A crisis over North Korean nuclear issues has been defused as the United States announced it was removing North Korea from the U.S. blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism following Pyongyang’s declaration and partial dismantling of its nuclear facilities.

Although international diplomats consider that the main problem of North Korea’s nuclear issue has been resolved, they still assert that there will be a long way to go in order to resolve it entirely.

The Bush administration, which is engrossed in making some sort of diplomatic achievement before leaving office, has in some way conceded on the nuclear issue. Additionally, North Korea is deemed to have gained political and diplomatic victory over the U.S. on its own terms. What this means is that North Korea’s being removed from the terrorism list must not be seen as the conclusion of work on the North Korean nuclear issue; in fact it’s just a beginning.

Still more time and effort are needed in order to resolve the nuclear issue entirely. To begin with, the United States must establish consistent and clear policies, regardless of the change of administration in Washington. That is the guideline that the most influential country in the world should follow and also, that is what all the rest of the world expects.

But also North Korea must stop making deals with other countries, not only the United States, using the threat of its nuclear program as a bargaining chip. Instead, it should acknowledge the fact that the only way to become a member of the community of nations is to accept the necessary help and cooperation of international society while dismantling its nuclear program. The U.S. should keep its close relationship with South Korea, and North Korea should put continuous efforts to establish better relations with South Korea so that it can gain the trust of international society.

Chung Eun-Jee, Sookmyung Girls’ High School