N. Korea Thinks It's Entitled

A couple of weeks ago, Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea and procured the release of two U.S. journalists that had been imprisoned there. Even though Clinton was not acting officially for the United States government, it seems the North Koreans now think the U.S. government owes them something for the journalist's release.

Two North Korean diplomats are visiting Governor Richardson in New Mexico. He is one of the few Americans they trust and will talk with. According to Richardson, the North Koreans feel they are now entitled to bilateral talks with the United States.

Richardson told CNN, "They feel, the North Koreans, that by giving us the two American journalists, that they've made an important gesture. And now they're saying the ball's in our court. They do feel they are owed a gesture on the U.S. part." Richardson then added, "I don't believe that should be the case because this was a humanitarian gesture that needed to happen."

The U.S. government agrees with Richardson. A government spokesman said, "Our policy toward North Korea remains today as it has been -- calling for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We believe the six-party talks are the best forum for that. The bottom line is, the ball is in North Korea's court."

I have to agree with Gov. Richardson. North Korea is a pariah to the rest of the world, and they needed to release the journalists as a humanitarian gesture just to show they are capable of a humanitarian effort. But they should not expect it to get them more than a little good will.

Frankly, bilateral talks with the United States just doesn't make any sense. The other four nations in the six-nation talks (China, Russia, Japan and South Korea) are much closer to North Korea, and therefore are much more affected by a nuclear North Korea than the United States.

These nations have a right to be a part of the talks, and the United States has no right to speak for them in two-party talks. There is no reason to expect a U.S.-North Korean agreement would have to be respected by these other countries. The six-party talks must continue.

The United States owes North Korea nothing more than a "thank you" for releasing the journalists.