Skeptics describe the historic meeting Friday between the leaders of North and South Korea as inconsequential.
Nothing definite came out of the tête-à-tête, they say.
On the other hand, its the first time that a North Korean leader has stepped foot in South Korea much less with an outstretched hand.
It was in 1945 that the arbitrary border between the north and south was drawn, eventually leading to the proxy war in 1953 between the Soviets and the United States. That Fridays meeting could reach across that gulf speaks volumes.
It would be something indeed if the two Koreas could, symbolically, Tear down that wall.
But, were getting ahead of ourselves.
After all, its only been since last fall that North Koreas Kim Jong Un threatened the United States and his neighbors with nuclear annihilation. So an about-face for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula appears too good to be true.
Over the past 20 years, North Korea has played a cat-and-mouse game with the West, dangling the prospect of denuclearization in return for improved trade relations.
On Friday, Kim reportedly told South Koreas President Moon Jae-In that he would abandon his nuclear weapons if the United States agreed to formally end the Korean War and promise not to invade his country.
The devil, of course, is in the details.
Up until now, our interpretation of denuclearization includes surrenduring weapons, not, as per Kim, simply a halt in their production.
Maybe this time hes on the same page. If so, its certainly not an opportunity to miss.
Perhaps in his seven years as the leader of one of the worlds most impoverished and repressive regimes, Kim is realizing that his massive arsenal was built at the sacrifice of so much else, including his peoples abilities to have adequate food and shelter and that if he wishes to bring them even a modicum of prosperity then he needs to change his isolationist course.
As a relatively young leader, Kim is reportedly in the neighborhood of 34 to 36, perhaps hes also come to the conclusion that the status quo does not bode well for him, either.
Even an iron grip is susceptible to rust.
That, of anything, is the most plausible explanation for this change of heart.
Hey, works for us.
Susan Lynn
