Amb. Hill Threatens NK with “Concrete Measures”

Threats seem to work better after you’ve asked the other fellow to step outside. Hill, perhaps under some pressure after a tough day before the Congress, leaked some other encouraging statements:

Washington’s chief negotiator in six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, Christopher Hill, reportedly said the Stalinist country must discuss its human rights record, plans to develop biochemical weapons, support for terrorism and other illegitimate activities before the U.S. is ready to normalize ties.

Which could mean nothing whatsoever. So they “discuss” it. That’s not progress, but this might be:

He also said Pyongyang must verifiably dismantle not only its plutonium program but also a uranium enrichment program the U.S. claims it operates. Turning to an ambiguous provision in the accord that discussion of a civilian-use light-water reactor for North Korea will come “at an appropriate time,” Hill said that time was after Pyongyang dismantles all its nuclear programs, admits inspectors and shows consistent transparency, according to sources.

I believe that transparency is the key to human rights and to disarmament. If only transparency were the prerequisite to diplomatic relations, we’d have a policy with some hope of actual success.