N. Korea's belligerence should not derail talks

No one should be surprised by North Korea's saber-rattling during the six-nation talks held last week in China's capital, Beijing, to discuss the rogue country's nuclear program. Belligerence is the only tool the leaders in Pyongyang have to distract the populace from the economic collapse that has brought widespread hunger and disease. The Communist regime continues to pump gobs of money into the huge military establishment, while shortages of food and medicine reach emergency levels.
North Korea blames the United States for the hardship, but that charge has been largely dismissed by the international community. There is no doubt that humanitarian aid and the resumption of oil shipments are urgently needed, but President Bush, like his predecessors, has demanded an immediate end to North Korea's nuclear program before assistance is forthcoming.
It is not an unreasonable demand given that the Communist leaders have made no secret of their desire for a unified Korea -- in the likeness of the North, rather than the Democratic South. Indeed, the continuing expansion of the nuclear program demonstrates that territorial expansion remains part of North Korea's foreign policy.
Weapons test
That is why the comment by a North Korean delegate that his government had "no choice but to declare its possession of nuclear weapons" and may be forced to "conduct a nuclear weapons test" cannot be taken lightly. It is true, as the Bush administration contends, that "North Korea has a long history of making inflammatory comments." But it is also true that the gap between the Communists' words and deeds has been shrinking. Confrontation with American troops stationed in the DMZ has been kicked up several notches, while the incidents of spying on the South have increased greatly.
These aren't the actions of a friendly neighbor.
But despite the belligerence, there are indications that the leaders in Pyongyang are eager to reach an accommodation with the United States.
"The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and the U.S. should make clear their will to clear up bilateral concerns," the North's official news agency said after the three-day meeting that included China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. "The DPRK will clarify its will to dismantle its nuclear weapons program if the U.S. makes clear its will to give up its hostile policy."
Such comments will undoubtedly play well at home, but North Korea must know that conducting a nuclear weapons test will make it more difficult for the United States and its ally, South Korea, to resume talks. Such a test will be seen as a threatening act, if not an act of aggression.
At the conclusion of last week's summit, participants expressed an interest in meeting again in two months. But that hinges on what North Korea does. The Communist leaders would be well advised to lower their voices.