North Korean cunning

North Korean cunning in turning adversity to tactical advantage knows no bounds. This much is clear from Pyongyang's demand last week that it would attend four-party peace talks with the United States, China and South Korea only on condition that it received food supplies to relieve a serious grain shortage.

From a land where some citizens are reportedly eating tree bark and grass to stave off hunger, that looked like a reasonable request. But do not be fooled. After the nuclear power reactor deal of 1994 and the apology last December to South Korea for the submarine incursion, the world should know by now that Pyongyang calculates every move it makes.

In the circumstances, the United States and South Korea are right to reject as unacceptable the tying of food aid to the start of peace talks.

-- The Straits Times, Singapore