North Korea pledges to quit nukes

CNN Website:-http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/01/nkorea.talks.ap/index.html

In a surprising turn of event, North Korea's No. 2 has pledged to give up the nation's plans to pursue nuclear arms. In a meeting with a South Korean Reunification minister, Mr. Kim Yong Nam, the Vice-President of North Korea stated that this was the dying wish of the founding President of his nation. In return for agreeing to disarm, they will be "rewarded" in the form of aid. Mr. Kim also called for greater cooperation between the North and the South, a move that was seen by a cynical South Korea as an attempt to drive a wedge between the South and Washington.

In a world that is already gripped with chaos and fear of the next world war, North Korea's promise to drop her plans of pursuing nuclear arms will be greeted with a sense of relief not only in the Asia-Pacific region but all over the world. However, it remains to be seen whether North Korea would stick to its promises as her eccentric and "beloved" leader Kim Jong Il is someone whose credibility cannot be counted on. Notorious for his cruel and inhumane treatment of his fellow country-men and subjects, I would not be surprised if Mr. Kim goes back on his country's word regarding this matter.

Already included in America's "Axis of Evil", North Korea will greatly ease the global concerns of another war breaking out. If her resolution to drop all plans for nuclear arms comes to pass, her neighbours China and mainly South Korea have to be greatly lauded for what seemed an impossible task of "coaxing" her into disarming. Asia being a region touted for future greatness, has her future hanging in the balance as the whole world awaits to see if North Korea will keep to her promise. Failure to do might send the region which promises so much in the form of economic growth crashing all the way down.