North Korea's envoy to the UN Sin Son-ho on Friday told reporters in New York his government is not against dialogue on issues "of common concern."

It has become customary for North Korea to propose talks after committing a provocation that rattles the world. In talks held under such circumstances, North Korea has deceived the international community and bolstered its nuclear capabilities. The Barack Obama administration has repeatedly vowed not to be swayed by Pyongyang's tactics, reducing the chances of success of North Korea's latest maneuver.

But the present stalemate cannot continue indefinitely. The U.S. is seeking direct talks with North Korea provided the North unconditionally returns to the six-party talks. Sin on Friday said the six-party talks are "gone forever." But a shift in that stance could immediately lead to direct talks between North Korea and the U.S.

Or if North Korea makes leaps and bounds in its development of a nuclear warhead, long-range missile and uranium enrichment, the U.S. government and the international community could face intense pressure to negotiate with it. The chances of such a scenario are even greater if China continues to refrain from pressuring North Korea and seeks to maintain the status quo. Either way, North Korea and the U.S. will end up face to face at a dialogue table.

But we cannot allow U.S.-North Korea talks to end up tacitly recognizing the North’s nuclear weapons as an established fact. Even if direct talks do not produce such results, South Korea must be prepared to shoulder the national security, political and economic burden.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during the ASEAN Regional Forum that if North Korea enters a process of irreversible denuclearization, the U.S. government is willing to offer a "comprehensive package" including establishment of formal diplomatic relations, a permanent peace treaty, and energy and economic aid. And the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea and the South's economic assistance to North Korea could be included in the agenda of talks.

Starting today, the U.S. and China begin their first-ever talks on diplomatic and economic strategy. North Korea is said to be among the main items on the agenda. No matter how strong the Seoul-Washington alliance may be, we must avoid issues involving our own fate being discussed at talks between Washington and Beijing or Pyongyang that do not include us. We need to see realistic measures that can guarantee our right to voice our demands.

But most of all, we must prepare a broad mid- to long-term national strategy and achieve domestic unity at least in terms of dealing with North Korea. The latest set of sanctions must continue until the North shows a definite shift in its attitude, and then we must prepare for what will happen beyond that stage.