Such roguery, plus repeated defaulting on loans from several governments and dozens of banks, meant that already 20 years ago any European enthusiasm for engaging North Korea had dwindled. Much the same applied at the EU level, where Pyongyang's behavior angered even sympathetic socialist Members of the European Parliament. If North Korea was thus insouciant, this was partly because by the 1980s it had found a way to set up shop in the major western European capitals despite their refusal of recognition. As often lately, there's less to some so-called breakthroughs with North Korea than meets the eye. The risk is that rhetoric about new beginnings may obscure a long history of past initiatives - most of which ended in tears.
Hope springs eternal.
Ltd. Asia Times Online is designed and produced by Multimedia Asia Co., Ltd.