A Good Time to Try North Korea Detente

The release last week of Euna Lee and Laura Ling, the two U.S. journalists held by North Korea, is cause for celebration and also an opportunity to pursue change by Pyongyang. North Korea's aging, inbred and isolated ruling clique confronts very extreme poverty, stagnation and global isolation. In consequence, Seoul, as well as Washington, has a diplomatic and political opening which should be exploited, especially over the coming weeks.

China is pivotal, an economic colossus which has so far avoided the severe international economic recession. Beijing is Pyongyang's only remaining substantial ally, but now regularly sides with the U.N. and U.S. in pressing for restraint by the North, especially in regards to nuclear weapons development.