Roh Says Korean War Can Officially End Prior to North Korea's Nuclear Disarmament

News Item: "South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said in an interview published on Nov.3 that the declaration of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War can be made even before the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program is verified... Roh's stance is slightly different from the position of the U.S. government, which has insisted that an official declaration of the end of the Korean War is not practically possible this year, as the verifiable denuclearization of North Korea is a prerequisite to both declaring the end of the war and signing a peace treaty."

Commentary: Another instance of South Korea's policy moving ahead of the US policy towards North Korea? Or South Korea's increasing role as transformer in Northeast Asia? Roh's term ends in December, will the incoming administration maintain the policy of detente and rapproachement with North Korea? [photo: Pres. and Mrs. Roh crossing the line that divides Korea on the way to the summit.]