N. Korea-Japan talks stir hope for peace

North Korea and Japan's interests seem to have merged.

The former badly needs food and economic aid from Japan, while the latter has been pushed toward North Korea by plans for a four-nation parley, which excludes Japan.

We do not oppose Japan-North Korea and United States-North Korea official relations. But, we earnestly hope that the moves to improve ties will contribute to cementing peace and security on the Korean peninsula by spurring Pyongyang to resume dialogue with Seoul.

To be noted this time is the fact that North Korea showed a flexible attitude, if not actually making concessions, to Japan by removing major obstacles for forming official ties.

North Korea, which is in a serious economic dilemma, is eager to receive reparations from Japan for its 35-year colonial rule, of what was then a united Korea, in addition to food and other economic aid.

What must be emphasized, in order to plant lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, is the vital need for North Korea to open its doors and become a normal member of the international community.

It must allow its own people to have access to the world outside North Korea, still the most closed society in the world. It is distressing indeed that many North Koreans, except for the handful of those in power, are impoverished and on the brink of starvation, while being forced to prepare for another war to communize South Korea.

They are deceived and captivated by the juche (self-reliance) ideology adopted by Kim Il-sung and his heir apparent Kim Jong-il with cult-like fanaticism.

North Korea is once again urged to discontinue its closed-door policy and meet its responsibility and duty as a member of the global village.

Pyongyang needs to be reminded of Seoul's repeatedly expressed willingness to positively support it, if it wants to become a good member of the international community.

In the face of the second set of preliminary talks to prepare for the four-party talks with South and North Korea, the United States and China -- planned for the middle of next month -- we continue to worry about Pyongyang's stubborn rejection of direct official dialogue with Seoul.

-- The Korea Times