The willing attitude of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for six-way talks on its nuclear programme is undoubtedly encouraging.

On Friday, the DPRK said it had agreed to a six-side negotiation, which is expected to include China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia, and the United States.

It is a huge concession made by Pyongyang from its previous firmly-held stance for direct bilateral talks with the United States.

It may be too early to declare that the cloud of war over the Korea Peninsula brought about by the nuclear stand-off between Pyongyang and Washington can possibly be dispersed. What is certain, however, is that it is an important part of the international community's efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the situation.

To mirror Pyongyang's moves, US President George W. Bush said on Friday that the United States would agree to hold a one-on-one dialogue with the DPRK during the multilateral talks.

Since the eruption of the nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula last October when the United States said the DPRK had admitted its covert nuclear weapons development programme, the two countries have been exchanging substantial rhetoric with each other.

Washington and Pyongyang were divided on the format of the dialogues.

Pyongyang has consistently insisted on bilateral talks with Washington, although it maintained its nuclear stand-off with the United States was caused by the latter's hostility and the threat of war.

Pyongyang also said it would abandon its nuclear programme only after Washington makes a commitment not to go to war with the DPRK, and provides it with a non-aggression security guarantee in the form of a treaty.

The United States insists Pyongyang should completely surrender its nuclear programme and only then can multilateral talks be held.

Hence, the latest decision made by Pyongyang and the active response from Washington is a good step.

But there is not much to be too optimistic about regarding the talks themselves.

Besides agreeing to return to the negotiating table, the DPRK and the United States have not made many concessions on the key issues.

The six-party talks only mean the two foes have reached an agreement on the format of the talks, but does not mean they have reached a consensus on the content of those discussions.

A final peaceful settlement of the nuclear crisis needs more sincerity, concessions if necessary, and a problem-solving spirit from all parties concerned.

(China Daily    August 5,  2004)