HONOLULU -- Has U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to include North Korea in his "axis of evil" foreclosed the possibility of serious dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang? Not necessarily. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell maintains that Washington's earlier "any time, any place, without preconditions" offer for negotiations still stands and North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, has now said that his nation is also receptive to dialogue with the United States "on an equal basis and without preconditions," if only the U.S. would quit being so hostile.
Who knows, perhaps Bush's branding may have finally convinced Pyongyang that Washington is not going to beg or bribe it to come to the table; that the ball is really in North Korea's court, as Powell continues to maintain.
This is not meant to put a positive spin on Bush's "axis" formulation. It was inaccurate, inappropriate and potentially damaging because it greatly complicates U.S. relations with South Korea and helps to reinforce the "arrogance without excellence" image that the administration seems intent on fostering.