LET THE BIG DOG EAT

Chinese Aide Says U.S. Is Obstacle in Korean Talks (JOSEPH KAHN, September 2, 2003, NY Times)

Asked about the obstacles that had arisen during the talks in Beijing last week, Wang Yi, a vice foreign minister who was China's chief delegate at the negotiations, replied, "America's policy toward the D.P.R.K. -- that is the main problem we are facing." North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. Wang made the comment to reporters during a conference he was attending in Manila, and it was not immediately clear if he spoke for China's Foreign Ministry, which has sought to maintain a neutral position while urging both parties to continue negotiating.

But the remark may reflect frustration that the United States offered no concessions to North Korea during the talks, which were organized after extensive diplomacy by Chinese officials.

The Bush administration has maintained that North Korea must dismantle its nuclear program before discussions can begin on any benefits it might receive for doing so. North Korea says it is willing to give up its nuclear program, but only if the United States offers a nonaggression treaty first.

Mr. Wang suggested that the next round should focus on forcing the United States to elaborate on its verbal commitment to consider North Korea's security concerns.

The Administration, by making North Korea concede to six-party talks and treating them as nothing more than an opportunity for North Korea to make further concessions, has effectively won already. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 2, 2003 7:54 AM