He Fits the Bill

What does it take to convince Kim Jong-il to do something the US wants?

It takes celebrity attention. Let me explain.

Earlier this year, two American journalists from California were imprisoned in North Korea. They had entered the country illegally from China. For this offence, they were sentenced to 12 years hard labour.

The US State Department immediately got involved. They spent weeks trying to negotiate a bargain with North Korea, treating the issue as completely separate to the most recent nuclear testing.

After all this hard work by the State Department, the only thing lacking was a face: Who would make this exchange actually happen?

North Korea wanted someone famous and influential. They wanted to be able to say that the US had spoken to them through a celebrity. Kim Jong-il wanted to show he was worth enough to the US to have them send someone important.

But who to send?

The inspired choice, in the end, was former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton is well-known enough to attract huge amounts of media to North Korea. He also has a personal charm and charisma that can disarm even an obstinate dictator.

Also, the journalists in question work for a news company owned partly by former Vice-President Al Gore. Gore had offered to go to North Korea himself, but they said no: they wanted Bill.

So, the State Department did the preparation and Bill swooped in to make everything happen with his trademark glamour. There were also the vital TV and press pictures.

However, I think this means something more to North Korea. They used the occasion to say that President Obama sent a personal message to Kim Jong-il, which the White House continues to deny. The photos appeared on the evening news across North Korea, albeit after a story about cleaning up a biscuit factory.

North Korea feels cut off. They are left on their own, not included in global talks, unable to function the same as many other East Asian states.

For North Korea to be visited by a former President, suddenly North Korea is cast into the limelight. All attention focused on them. This kind of publicity is also better than news stories about the abject poverty of its citizens. It’s a chance to make North Korea look good in the global spotlight.

Since Bill Clinton’s visit, North Korea has asked the US for bilateral talks, but the US has said that bilateral discussions will only resume as part of the six-nation consultations on disarmament.

I believe Kim Jong-il has begun to realise the predicament in which he has placed himself. he has reached an impasse in talks with the US his people are starving, and he himself is possibly dying. He has alienated almost the entire globe. The US has stated this episode does not change their demands regarding North Korea. But, this meeting with Bill Clinton may have been Kim Jong-il’s first step in the reconciliatory direction.