Let’s not lose sight of history with North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he’s willing to abandon his nuclear testing facilities, under certain conditions, such as declaring the 60-year-old Korean War over. He now condones the idea of a “denuclearized” Korean Peninsula. Kim and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in held historic meetings last week. And Moon is saying U.S. President Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for finally getting North Korea to the table after decades of tension and threats.

With all due respect, let’s hold off on the ticker tape parade.

It’s fair to say there is legitimate reason for cautious optimism. The relationship between the two Koreas hasn’t been this cordial for a very long time, if ever. Trump’s willingness to meet with Kim has had a constructive effect. If that meeting, thought to be coming within a month, goes well, further optimism will be justifiable.

Still, a reality check is in order. When it comes to North Korea, let’s not lose sight of history.

Back in 1968, North Korea captured U.S. spy ship Pueblo, and held its 82 crew in captivity for a year. One was executed. The U.S. had no effective response. The following year an American surveillance plane was shot down, killing all 21 aboard. President Richard Nixon had no response. In 1976, two U.S. soldiers were putting up a Christmas tree in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. The two were hacked to death. An American “reconnaissance” force later cut down the tree.

The point of all that is that the U.S. doesn’t have a good track record dealing with North Korean transgressions. That came back to haunt Washington again in 1994, when North Korea signed an “agreed framework” with the Clinton administration. Immediately after, Pyongyang began a covert uranium enrichment program. And on it went ... in 2000, the previous leader, Kim Jong Il, promised significant strategic concessions to the Clinton administration. And like Charlie Brown with the football, the Americans went for it, only to see the ball pulled away at the last minute.

To be fair, then is not now. No one knows for sure why the current Kim seems so willing to talk and make concessions, but there is no shortage of speculation.

Perhaps Trump’s Dr. Strangelove impersonation did rattle the dictator. Perhaps, after generations of hardship and deprivation levied on his subjects, Kim sees the writing on the wall and knows his dynasty is at risk if he doesn’t do something to ease the pressure. Maybe North Korea’s big brother in the region, China, is employing a stick and carrot with Kim, promising much needed imports and supplies if the dictator plays nicely for once. Maybe Kim wants to lull South Korea and the U.S. into an optimistic stupor while he carries on building up a nuclear arsenal.

Or, to be fair, maybe he is sincere and willing to usher his poor, deprived nation and subjects onto the world stage so they can begin to live fuller, happier and productive lives. Let’s hope that is the case. If so, Kim and Trump will be viewed as key players in history, and yes, one of them might even get the peace prize.

Or maybe Kim is a big fan of Charles Schulz’s immortal comic characters. Let’s just hope Lucy isn’t his favourite.