Kim's approach is far more promising than Bush's. Defusing tensions has always been Kim's main objective. Drawing the Stalinist North Korea out of its shell and into daylight will offer insights into what its leader, Kim Jong-il, is up to.
It could also eradicate the poverty and dependency that allows North Korea's leadership to maintain loyalty from the public. Trade and foreign investment could one day boost North Korea's economy. Geopolitical benefits abound, too. Engaging North Korea could go a long way toward getting it off everyone's terrorist-state radar screen.
Giving Clinton's policy a look
One can fault the Clinton Administration's foreign policy on many fronts, but its approach to North Korea was far more appropriate than Bush's. "When we left office, we left the potential of a verifiable agreement to stop the export of missile technology abroad on the table," Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said recently. "I think it's a mistake to walk away from that. We know that North Korea is dangerous, but lumping those three countries together is dangerous."
Here in Asia, many joke that the real "axis of evil" is US Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice -- the Bush Administration's leading hawks. Rather than transporting us back to the Cold War days, Bush might consider listening to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who's long been open to engaging North Korea.
Bush has knocked the sun out of Korea's sky. This week, he has the power to return it.
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