Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
"They feel, the North Koreans, that by giving us the two American journalists, that they've made an important gesture," New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told CNN Wednesday after meeting with two North Korean diplomats. "And now they're saying the ball's in our court."
And it looks like we're just giving it back. With a pat on the back for a nice try.
But senior Obama administration officials said six-party talks are still the proper venue for such a dialogue, and stressed that Richardson was not negotiating on the president's behalf. Richardson himself said he would only relay the information to the White House.
"I spoke with those guys from Wonderland. The Mad Hatter feels you owe him tea."
"Our policy toward North Korea remains today as it has been -- calling for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," one of the administration officials said Wednesday. "We believe the six-party talks are the best forum for that. The bottom line is, the ball is in North Korea's court."
The officials said North Korea can choose one of two paths: either continued provocation by testing missiles or a more peaceful road on which they live up to previous commitments.
I'm betting on the former. No penalty for it. Just huffing and puffing.
The visit by the
"They do feel they are owed a gesture on the U.S. part," Richardson said, adding, "I don't believe that should be the case because this was a humanitarian gesture that needed to happen."The North Korean diplomats felt Clinton's trip helped "thaw relations" and gave North Korea "international prestige," Richardson said.
They also think Kimmie can give field guidance to Tiger Woods on his golf swing.
| That's the advantage of having an expat brat in the White House. He understands other cultures so much better than the average Ami, and so won't cause to little misunderstandings like this. |
That's their story, and it appears that they're sticking to it.
Richardson said the North Koreans are interested only in direct talks with U.S. officials, such as special envoy Stephen Bosworth, and have no plans to return to the six-party talks with China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
Cool! Can we get on with thumping them now?
"They don't like the six-party talks, they felt that it's produced sanctions on them," Richardson said. "They want a new format -- and the format they want is direct talks with the United States."
Ooh, Mr. Kotter! Can I talk to them? It'll just take a second!
Administration officials had said they hoped the release of the journalists would give North Korea a face-saving opportunity to return to talks aimed at ending its nuclear program.
Err, you kidnapped them to begin with. Like a couple of girls are a national threat? Only to the Norks.
Kim Myong Gil and Taek Jong Ho, senior diplomats with the North Korean mission to the United Nations, left New York on Tuesday for two days of meetings with Richardson.
Ha ha! Those are girl's names!
Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has traveled to North Korea several times, most recently in April 2007 to secure the return of the remains of American soldiers killed during the Korean War.
He said the North Korean officials approached him with the idea of meeting.
"Take us to your leader!"
"I detected for the first time ... a lessening of tension, some positive vibrations," Richardson said, comparing Wednesday's meeting with the many others he's engaged in with the North Koreans.
Uh oh, you just may have signed their death warrant Bill.
On Thursday, the two diplomats will talk with Richardson about renewable energy initiatives,
and Tiger's golf swing
Richardson aide Gilbert Gallegos said. New Mexico is a leader in the United States in exploring renewable energy technologies.
Bill, I think the Norks would be happy just to have a pedal-powered generator. They wouldn't know what to do with a windmill. Unless Kimmie instructed them on how to build and operate one, of course.