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Bill Clinton¡¯s North Korea policy coordinator said Sunday China would eventually come round to the view that economic pressure is needed in bringing Pyongyang back to six-party nuclear disarmament talks. William Perry also warned of ¡°bad consequences¡± if the North carries on its nuclear arms program.
A former U.S. defense secretary, Perry wrote the ¡°Perry Report¡± detailing a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue and prepared the ground for U.S. North Korea policy at the end of the Clinton administration. He spoke to the Chosun Ilbo during a three-day visit to Korea.
The six-party talks have stalled. Is there no other solution?
To bring North Korea back to the six-party talk framework, economic pressure is required. I think the Chinese government, too, will soon arrive at this conclusion on its own. China is changing quickly, and so is its strategy. When North Korea refuses to continue talks and won¡¯t give up its nuclear weapons, China may apply economic pressure.
How do you view China¡¯s role?
¡°In the North Korean nuclear dispute, China holds an important key. By providing a venue for the talks, it is giving important political support to the international community. It is also applying political pressure on North Korea so that it returns to the six-party talks.¡±
If the six-party talks fail¡¦
The North Korean nuclear dispute won¡¯t be resolved and the consequences would be very severe. We can¡¯t guess what Kim Jong-il is thinking or what North Korea will do next. Anything can happen. But one thing is clear. If North Korea says it will continue having nuclear arms, there will definitely be bad consequences.
Persuading North Korea won¡¯t be easy
Frankly, I¡¯m not certain there is a special way to do it. I don¡¯t know whether North Korea can be led back to the talks, or whether there can be an agreement even if it comes back. What is clear is that we mustn¡¯t give up on trying to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. In order to resolve the nuclear issue, there must first be a consistent and continuous strategy to lead Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. It won¡¯t be easy, but it has to be done.
What are the chances that the U.S. might attack North Korea on its own?
The U.S. won¡¯t work exclusively, but apply multilateral pressure along with several nations. For example, even if it were to apply only economic measures, it would need the help of South Korea or China.¡±
It appears the Korea-U.S. alliance is moving along a strange current.
The Korea-U.S. alliance is absolutely necessary. But recently it doesn¡¯t appear as solid as it was in the past. If I were in the U.S. or Korean government, I would work to place my priority on friendship with Korea.¡±
Aren¡¯t there differences in opinion between Seoul and Washington over the North Korean nuclear dispute?
About the importance of the issue and the principle of Korea-U.S. cooperation, the two think alike, but it seems there is a difference in opinion over the strategy to resolve it.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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