(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Feb. 13)

Opportunity or Self-Destruction
North Korea Urged to Choose Better Course

North Korea's notorious brinkmanship tactics might reach their peak as it seeks
to test-fire a long-range missile amid a nuclear standoff. No one knows how far
the recalcitrant communist state will go in its bid to escalate tension with
South Korea and the United States. It is unfortunate that the Kim Jong-il regime
has continued to defy international calls for reconciliation and peace.
A series of recent provocative acts by the North has to be interpreted in the
broader context of the impoverished country's survival. North Korea faces a
crisis from economic collapse under its rigid socialist system and will never get
out of trouble without solving bread and butter issues.
It may not be difficult to find the real reasons behind the North's bullying
tactics. First, Pyongyang intends to put mounting pressure on Seoul and
Washington to get more concessions that are indispensable to the North's
survival. There is no doubt that North Korea can no longer buttress its
dilapidated socialist economy without outside assistance.
Conversely, the badly needed external assistance could also trigger a collapse of
the military regime, which is why Pyongyang continues to increase tension. If
more and more foreign aid is flown in, the North must eventually open itself to
the world.
The fear is that the opening and subsequent reform would accelerate the breakdown
of the ancient regime. North Korean leaders seem to believe that one of the ways
of preventing its collapse while receiving international aid is to enter into
deeper isolation.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang is struggling to tighten its grip on power to rally its
people behind the dictatorial regime. It has already pushed a nuclear weapons
program and developed weapons of mass destruction, including long-range missiles.
By strengthening its military, the regime is trying to consolidate its rule and
extract more concessions from the South, the U.S. and other countries.
Therefore, Kim and his inner circle apparently believe that the nuclear program
is its best strategy, effective internally and externally. It is safe to say that
Pyongyang has partly succeeded in playing the nuclear game. Furthermore, it is
attempting to turn the clock back to retreat to the era of Stalinist rule. The
attempt is gaining momentum amid Kim's alleged health problems, which have
sparked speculation about who will succeed the "Dear Leader" after his death.
Pyongyang is preparing to test-fire its long-range Taepodong-2 missile ahead of
next week's visit to South Korea, Japan, China and Indonesia by U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton. The test can only be seen as "unacceptable" provocation.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is considering activating a missile defense
system to intercept the Taepodong-2 in case of a test launch.
North Korea should realize that its saber-rattling will only lead to its
self-destruction. It is urgent to make good on its commitment to denuclearize. It
must also give up its bid to show off its military power. Clinton said there are
"opportunities" for the North if it makes progress in nuclear disarmament.
Therefore, it should return to the six-party and inter-Korean talks to move
toward reconciliation, peace and co-prosperity before it's too late.
(END)