In all probability, freezing North Korea's nuclear development activities will be the key to finding a diplomatic solution because time is running out for preventing the actual production of nuclear weapons. Pyongyang's most recent claim that it had finished reprocessing spent fuel rods into plutonium and possessed "nuclear deterrence" attested to this threat. This is why another round of six-party talks must be convened as early as possible to tackle this most urgent task.
In this regard, three recent signs give us some hope. One is the United States' "willingness to discuss a sequence of denuclearization measures with corresponding measures on the part of both sides" -- which the U.S. delegate reportedly revealed at the first six-party talk in August 2003.
The other hopeful signs are that, contrary to some forecasts, North Korea neither declared itself to be a nuclear weapons state nor displayed ballistic missiles at the parade celebrating the 55th anniversary of its founding on Sept. 9, and that the North appears to have halted work at its Yongbyon nuclear complex. The latter sign, in particular, is encouraging, for this may well indicate restraint by North Korean authorities in anticipation of a second round of six-party talks with the U.S., South Korea, Japan, China and Russia.