North Korea Watches Libya's Nuclear Arms Crisis

December 23, 2003

Libya's about- face on weapons of mass destruction increases world pressure on North Korea to negotiate a resolution to its nuclear standoff with the United States.

But the isolated communist regime may draw a lesson from Libya: hang tough to get the best economic deal possible.

Libya stunned the world by announcing it would abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs- and the long-range missiles to deliver them- in hope of receiving economic investment, political security and international respect.

President Bush, in a reference to North Korea, said he hoped "other leaders will find an example in Libya's announcement." While North Korea is certainly watching, analysts doubt its leader, Kim Jong II, intends to follow suit.

"North Korea is being surrounded by mounting international pressure," said Kim Sung-han, professor of Foreign Affairs and National Security, an affiliate of the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

"But North Korea also sees that negotiations can work, and will try harder to strengthen its own bargaining position."