It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

SOUTH KOREA: SOLVING THE NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3. So it would seem from the following, admittedly sketchy AP report on a proposal from Seoul.

At the coming talks, Lee said South Korea will push a three-stage plan to resolve the 16-month-old nuclear standoff.

The plan will start with North Korea declaring its willingness to give up its nuclear programs and Washington and its allies expressing readiness to provide a security guarantee.

The second stage will start with North Korea freezing its nuclear programs and then dismantling them in a verifiable way; the other countries would offer corresponding measures.

"The third stage is more of a comprehensive proposal in which resolution of other issues following the dismantlement are discussed,'' Lee said.

The U.S. response?

Maureen Cormack, spokeswoman of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said she would have to check on Lee's statement before commenting on the U.S. position.