NY Phil’s Performance Can Thaw U.S.-N. Korea Relations

"The Stars-Spangled Banner" rang through North Korea on Tuesday as the world-renowned U.S. orchestra began its historic concert in Pyongyang. The New York Philharmonic played the national anthem of the U.S. in a packed hall with 1,000 North Koreans in attendance. This landmark concert may mark a turning point in the chilly ties between North Korea and the U.S., which has lasted over half a century.

The concert was broadcast live on North Korea’s state media via TV and radio. The communist regime allowed the orchestra to perform works filled with American sentiment such as Antonin Dvorak`s No. 9 "New World” Symphony and George Gershwin`s "An American in Paris."

The Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean newspaper based in Japan, commented on the performance yesterday noting that the “music has power to even improve a century-old relationship with an arch-enemy.” The North Korean audience also showed enthusiasm for the music with loud applause.

As the old saying goes, “one swallow does not make a summer.” However, the response from Pyongyang was something totally different from the past. North Korea took an unprecedented open position to U.S. media, which accompanied the New York Philharmonic. ABC, CNN, and other major American news organizations, were also allowed to visit and cover the main nuclear facility at Yongbyon, where dismantlement is underway.

There are mixed views on the concert’s potential impact on Pyongyang. North Korea was probably taking advantage of the U.S media to show off its efforts to comply with the agreement to dismantle the nuclear facility. Others say that the American orchestra was invited to celebrate the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Nevertheless, today is certainly a different story altogether.

If Pyongyang really wants to improve relations with Washington, it shouldn’t miss this golden opportunity. There is no reason to block ties with the U.S. as long as the communist regime comes clear about its nuclear weapons program. The U.S. government has made it clear that it will remove North Korea from the list of countries supporting terrorists, if the isolated country fully reveals its nuclear weapons programs and activities. As the U.S. and China normalized relations through “Ping-pong diplomacy” in 1971, North Korea should take this chance to relieve tensions with the U.S.

Pyongyang had a rare opportunity to break the ice with Washington in 2000 when former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang. Back then, Pyongyang spoiled the chance when it was revealed to have developed nuclear weapons in secret. North Korean Vice-Marshal Cho Myong Rok, a special envoy of the DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, visited Washington in October and exchanged views with U.S. President Bill Clinton. In the U.S.-DPRK Joint Communique, the U.S. promised to provide economic and financial aid in return for a resolution over North Korea’s missile program. Unfortunately, all these efforts were wasted. It shouldn’t happen again. North Korea must remember it can neither become a responsible member of the international community, nor overcome its chronic economic difficulties without normalizing relations with the U.S.