[Editorial] Powell's message on N. Korean policy review

In view of the U.S. policy direction toward North Korea enunciated by Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell in his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, it is obvious that the incoming George W. Bush administration will pursue stricter reciprocal North Korea policy than the outgoing Bill Clinton administration.

During the hearing, Powell said that the Bush administration would review thoroughly the U.S. relationship with the North Koreans with the criteria that is meaningful -- continued peace and prosperity in the South and in the region. And as for the engagement policy with Pyongyang, he noted that the United States was open to continued process of engagement with the North so long as it addresses political, economic and security concerns, is reciprocal and does not come at the expense of U.S. alliances and relationships.

Heretofore, Republican members were of the view that the Clinton administration policy failed to induce any significant change in North Korea and therefore it was necessary to make an overall review of North Korea policy. This is because there was no substantial change in the North's governance structure and no tangible progress was made in the Clinton government's effort to address the crucial nuclear and missile issues, despite the outgoing administration praising the development as one of its great achievements.

From this standpoint, we are inclined to interpret that the Powell statement served a strong message to Pyongyang rather than a sort of solicitation. At the same time, it forecast that the future North Korean-U.S. relations would not be smooth. Such a potential discord in the Pyongyang-Washington relationship is feared to trigger impacts on not only South-North Korean relations but also ties among the four major powers surrounding Korean peninsula, including the United States, Russia, China and Japan.

In this situation, it is hoped that the North this year positively will explore change in tandem with the expectations of the international community. And Pyongyang needs to address the current international concern on its nuclear and missile capabilities in the first place.

Meanwhile, the incoming Bush administration might take into consideration Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's warning that any high-handed North Korea policy could damage U.S. diplomacy. It is required that the Bush administration should recognize the Clinton administration's diplomatic achievements in relation with the North and develop a new North Korea diplomacy on this basis.

Although Powell stressed that the two Koreas concerned should resolve the Korean question, it is essential for the United States and neighboring countries to display special concern and support for it. At this juncture, the government is urged to exert its utmost effort to promote policy coordination with Washington and to improve ties between the North and the United States, now that the development of North-U.S. relationship has become one of the Seoul government's imminent tasks.