What Step Will US Take Against North Korea? (Korea Times, KOREA)

North Korea is again testing the patience of the United States by continuously refusing to agree on the verification protocol for its declared nuclear activities. Nuclear envoys of the U.S., China, Russia, Japan and South Korea were disappointed at the North's failure to allow inspectors to take samples from its nuclear facilities during a new round of six-party talks in Beijing this week. The North' refusal is seen as a move to play for time to start a new negotiation with incoming U.S. President Barack Obama who is to take office on Jan. 20.

The recalcitrant North might believe that it can deal more easily with the Obama administration than with the conservative government of President George W. Bush. However, the North must realize that Obama and his policymakers will never play into the hands of intransigent leaders of the world's last Stalinist country. Obama is no doubt liberal and open-minded. He once said during his campaign trail that he is ready to meet with any leaders of friends and foes to solve important global issues.

It is nonsense for the North to interpret Obama's remarks as his willingness to make more concessions to the reclusive communist country than Bush did.

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