It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

ROH MOO-HYUN IS INAUGURATED. He promises, among other things, the following:

Today, he introduced a new name to the policy of peaceful engagement with North Korea known as sunshine policy under his predecessor and political mentor, Kim Dae Jung. Mr. Roh said his approach would be called the "peace and prosperity policy." This approach, he said, would seek to "build mutual trust and uphold reciprocity," and to ensure that "South Korea and North Korea are the two main actors in inter-Korean relations."

This language hints at the economic community Mr. Roh has said he wants to build with North Korea, even as Washington seeks to isolate the country, and seems to echo the candidate's complaints that the United States has too often been out in front of South Korea in determining policy toward the North. The speech also included repeated references to refocusing relations on the immediate region, and strengthened ties with China and Japan.

"Peace and prosperity policy": who can oppose that? The DPRK's launch of a missile on the same day may be an indication that North Korea may have other ideas. The American unwillingness to talk with North Korea is certainly an indication that the United States has stark policy differences with President Roh.