North Korea must convince a skeptical world

• Source: Global Times
• [01:19 May 26 2010]
• Comments

The Korean Peninsula is now standing on the brink of conflict, a situation that is fraying the nerves of the rest of the world.

Amid growing tensions over the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel the Cheonan, both Pyongyang and Seoul are escalating their war-like rhetoric toward each other.

The highly precarious situation demands cautious handling.

As North Korea has denied the accusation it torpedoed the Cheonan, it is time for Pyongyang to convince a skeptical world with solid evidence, as Seoul has already presented its evidence.

Patience is needed from the rest of the world so that North Korea can be assured of the chance to present its evidence and defend itself.

By doing so, the incident can be prevented from spiraling into a regional conflict. Such a conflict would not serve the interests of the Korean people in particular, and people in Asia in general.

The Cheonan's sinking is a tragedy that claimed the lives of 46 sailors. It has sparked the heartfelt sympathy of people across the globe, and sincere condolences have been offered to the victims and their families.

It is without any doubt that the causes of the tragedy must be identified and released to the public, and those responsible must apologize.

A cold reality confronting Pyongyang now is that South Korea has presented evidence so overwhelming that it has gained full support from the US and Japan and dominated worldwide public opinion on this issue.

In contrast, North Korea has merely thrown in strong verbiage along with the threat of an "all-out war." Its reaction will by no means help Pyongyang get out of the current predicament.

Instead, it can only come at the heavy price of further isolation from the rest of the world.

As a country suffering from deteriorating international credibility, a careful presentation of solid evidence against the accusation is the only option it has to persuade the world of its truthfulness.

If North Korea can successfully do so, the crisis might even be turned into an opportunity for it to dispel the long-held hostility of the West and to boost its national image on the world stage.

The grief and rage the Cheonan tragedy has sparked among South Koreans is understandable.

Yet it is equally important to bear in mind the public desire for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

As indicated by the latest poll, as many as 60 percent of South Koreans are against a military counterstrike against North Korea. That antiwar sentiment needs to be factored into the decision-making process of the South Korean government.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. In the past six decades, the Korean Peninsula has been one of the most fragile and yet enduring places in the world.

Radicalism never prevails here, as it only gives rise to troubles. While negotiations have been running over bumps, peace has long been with Koreans. That peace deserves to be cherished.

This critical moment of mounting tension poses both a test of credibility for North Korea and a test of endurance for all Koreans.