Pyongyang and the U.S.

There were hopes, a few years ago, that North Korea might just quietly implode, as the Soviet Union did, then be absorbed by its neighbor to the south.

The government in Pyongyang was capable of causing trouble, as evidenced by its alleged nuclear weapons development program, but it was assumed that the mischief could be contained until the regime collapsed under its own weight.

Unfortunately, the North Korean government has shown far more resilience than had been expected.

This has obliged the U.S. to find a new policy for dealing with North Korea.

In a step-by-step approach, the U.S. has pledged to further ease sanctions against North Korea, and move toward the establishment of diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

Progress depends on Pyongyang. It says it wants a new relationship with the U.S.: It must now prove it.

-- The Japan Times, Tokyo