Main focus of Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea a sign of hope

Former US president Bill Clinton met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang on Tuesday. In the course of the discussions Clinton was able to secure the release of two US journalists who were arrested on the Chinese border in March. The European press now pins its hopes on a resumption of nuclear talks.

Lidové noviny - Czech Republic

The conservative daily Lidové Noviny comments on the visit to North Korea by former US president Bill Clinton: "The West only becomes active towards terrorist regimes when it's time to free hostages. There's nothing to be said against that. ... But you've got to call a spade a spade. No one in the world seriously believes that Clinton visited Kim Jong-il on his own initiative. Everyone knows he's the husband of the US Secretary of State, the third most powerful politician in the country. And everyone knows that as president he was the one who introduced the policy of the carrot and the stick towards North Korea (in supplying food and an American light water reactor in return for Pyongyang's promise to freeze its nuclear weapons programme). Today everyone knows you can't force the North Korean regime to do anything at all. ... Communist North Korea has proved a hard nut to crack for all US governments. ... And Kim can now say: you see, the representatives of the countries who otherwise have nothing but disdain for us negotiate with me on an equal footing." (05/08/2009)

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The Guardian - United Kingdom

The left-liberal daily The Guardian sees Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea as an opportunity to break the diplomatic blockade in the nuclear dispute: "If North Korea uses Mr Clinton's visit to stop snarling and start talking, Mr Obama should be prepared to react in kind, releasing the noose of sanctions in return for a resumption of denuclearisation. The US should learn from the mistakes of the past, when it asked for too much too quickly ... . The exchange of concession for reward should be more carefully planned and sequenced. The nuclear card is the only one North Korea has, and with enough fissile material for a number of bombs, the country should be expected to play a long game. The US, China and other members of the six-party talks should be prepared to play an equally long game, in the knowledge that negotiation, however frustrating, is better than its alternative." (05/08/2009)

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Die Welt - Germany

On the successful visit of former US president Bill Clinton to North Korea the conservative daily Die Welt writes: "The high rank of the guest demonstrates yet again with what skill the otherwise so seemingly inflexible North Korea is able to employ blackmail manoeuvres to pull the ailing country through time after time. The pariah state is also unpredictable in its cunning. And this is why all this is not just about the two [released US] journalists. It wouldn't have required a man of Bill Clinton's stature to achieve that. The very fact that Clinton was welcomed at Pyongyang airport by the deputy foreign minister is a clear indication: after all, he is the country's chief negotiator in the nuclear dispute. Clinton's visit is without doubt a cautious attempt to find out whether under President Barack Obama a new phase in relations between the two countries, which had broken off diplomatic ties with each other, is possible. The US is right to use every opportunity that arises to enter dialogue." (05/08/2009)

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Trouw - Netherlands

The former US president Bill Clinton has achieved the release of two US journalists during his surprise visit to North Korea. But the country will expect to be rewarded, the daily Trouw believes: "Not without good reason did the North Korean state news agency report that the country's chief nuclear negotiator [Kim Kye-gwan] was waiting to receive Clinton. … The sentencing of the two journalists to 12 years in prison in June provided Kim Jong-il with a great piece of bait for entering a new round of negotiations. … In 2005 the country declared that it had officially become a nuclear power. In the eyes of Pyongyang only this can deter a US attack. Underground tests in 2006 and in May this year led to US protests and sanctions. … Bill Clinton was not able to make many concessions yesterday, but the very fact that Washington sent such a high-ranking representative is in itself a gesture of deference towards Pyongyang." (05/08/2009)

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