It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

DPRK: EXPECT US TO FOLD LIKE LIBYA? FORGET ABOUT IT.

The Associated Press ("N. KOREA HINTS IT WON'T RENOUNCE WEAPONS," Seoul, 01/09/04) reported that the DPRK said Friday that it would be foolish for the US to expect it to follow the example of "some Middle East countries," an apparent reference to Libya's decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction. The DPRK has been under international pressure to give up its nuclear weapons programs. But the communist regime is digging in with its hardline rhetoric, heralding tough negotiations. On Friday, a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman hinted that the recent decisions by Libya and Iran to allow intrusive inspections of their suspected weapons programs would not affect its strategy. "The US is hyping recent developments in some Middle East countries, the cases orchestrated by itself," the spokesman said, without citing Libya and Iran by name. "It is seized with hallucination that the same would happen on the Korean Peninsula and some countries echo this 'hope' and 'expect' some change." In comments carried by the DPRK's official KCNA news agency, he said the DPRK "has never been influenced by others and this will not happen in the future." "To expect any 'change' from the DPRK stand is as foolish as expecting a shower from clear sky," the spokesman said.

Now, contrast the above DPRK statements with a recent statement made by the ROK Ministry of Unification:

Joongang Ilbo (Arirang TV, "UNIFICATION MINISTRY: U.S. DETECTS CHANGE IN N KOREA'S ATTITUDE ON NUCLEAR ISSUE", 01/09/04 reported that Seoul's top official for inter-Korean affairs said that Pyeongyang's latest offer to freeze its nuclear program is a sure sign that DPRK is willing to engage in talks to end the drawn out nuclear standoff. In a weekly press briefing Thursday, Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun also said that Washington may have felt a change in stance by Pyeongyang that it is prepared to return to the dialogue table for detailed negotiations. He explained the reason why the Bush administration welcomed DPRK's proposal was because Washington has sensed a shift in Pyeongyang's attitude. As for cross-border exchanges, Minister Jeong said Seoul will try to keep the ball rolling and further stimulate inter-Korean projects this year.

Will the real North Korea please stand up? Probably not.