The U.S. Caves In To North Korea

After steadfastly refusing to negotiate on its own with North Korea for four years and insisting that the only way to keep the pressure on North Korea is with a united front with North Korea's neighboring countries, the administration rewards North Korea's intransigence and meets with North Korea one on one.

The Associated Press reports that U.S. officials met with North Korean officials in New York last week to discuss American policy toward the Stalinist state. According to the Associated Press, the information came from a U.S. Embassy official in Tokyo:

"We can confirm that we had working-level contact with North Korean officials on Friday, May 13, in New York," an embassy official said. "This channel is used to convey messages about U.S. policy, not to negotiate."

This seems like a huge change in policy. I understood that we would not engage in one on one discussions with North Korea as long as it was pursuing nuclear weapons.

There seems to major effort to appease the North Koreans:

A report in Japan's Asahi newspaper on Thursday said senior U.S. State Department officials told North Korean officials on Friday that Washington recognizes the North as a sovereign nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.

The U.S. officials also told the North Korean side that the administration of President Bush does not intend to attack North Korea, the Asahi said.

The Boston Globe reports today that Charles Pritchard, a former special envoy for the Bush administration to the North Korea talks, called the meeting ''notable" because the State Department had publicly rejected North Korea's request for a face-to-face meeting two weeks ago.

So much for the six party talks. This about face by the U.S. will only encourage North Korea and other countries with nuclear ambitions. Can you say ?

Comments

[Dave Schuler]

Is this a change in policy or the State Department vs. the White House. Careerists vs. temporary help?