The following editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News July 28:

There’s a glimmer of hope in North Korea’s return to the negotiating table after a 13-month boycott.

The key word is glimmer, as measured by a hint that North Korea might give up its nuclear ambitions in exchange for concessions from South Korea and the United States and other countries in the region.

But there’s an equally important word to keep in mind – skepticism, as measured by North Korea’s past behavior during nuclear weapons talks and conflicting signals.

Prior to six-nation talks under way this week, North Korea offered to halt its nuclear weapons program – under the right circumstances. Coming from a dictatorial Pyongyang government infamous for foot-dragging and negotiating gimmickry, the surprise offer was a modest starting line for negotiations.

North Korea continues to masterfully wield the nuclear threat to retain political leverage in Asia and authoritarian rule at home. Soon after President Bush called North Korea part of the “axis of evil,” the Pyongyang government angrily withdrew from the nuclear non-proliferation agreement, ousted nuclear inspectors and stepped up its nuclear weapons program.

The resulting stalemate has worked out mostly in North Korea’s favor because it bought time for the country to increase its nuclear capability. As one Asia-Pacific expert recently told Reuters news service, “Unless Kim Jong Il turns into Gorbachev, North Korea’s behavior is not going to change so quickly.”

Indeed. North Korea is not likely to relinquish nuclear weapons if it means losing face or backing down from threats. So that’s why South Korea continues to offer humanitarian aid to North Korea, and the United States now is promising that it won’t overthrow North Korea’s leaders.

These talks will bear fruit if the participants – the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea – agree on specific procedures and timetables to disarm North Korea. They must do it while maneuvering around potential deal-breakers: North Korea’s dismal human rights record; the presence of U.S troops in South Korea; North Korea’s penchant for politically timed defiance; and whether to reward North Korea before it disarms.

North Korea is back at the table. The poker game is back on. It will be awhile before we know who – if anyone – holds the winning hand.