Proposal to lift sanctions sets stage for US to defuse dangerous situation

The looming year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for new proposals from Washington to revive the denuclearization talks and Monday's joint proposal by China and Russia that some sanctions be lifted on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to enhance the livelihoods of the civilian population, perhaps explains Washington's sudden newfound urgency to "maintain international unity" on the issue.

Ironically, as it is Washington that has made no tangible concessions to advance the progress of the detente between the US and the DPRK－much to Pyongyang's annoyance, since it has taken actions to demonstrate its good faith－the US State Department said that the US remains committed to diplomacy, but it "cannot do this alone".

With China and Russia taking the initiative to give fresh impetus to the momentum of denuclearization, and in so doing showing the US stance for what it is－all take, no give－that US special representative for the DPRK, Stephen Biegun, made an impromptu change to his itinerary while in Japan is hopefully a positive sign that Washington is prepared to re-engage with the issue rather than persist with the folly of its complacency.