2009 began with the swearing-in of a new Democrat president in the United States. President Barack Obama indicated that he was ready to engage with Pyongyang. The new administration adopted a different approach from the previous more confrontational Bush government.

But Pyongyang was not interested. In April, it provoked the ire of the international community by launching a rocket that flew over the north of Japan and into the Pacific. The Japanese prime minister at the time, Taro Aso, was incensed.

“The rocket launch is a clear provocation that we will not tolerate,” he insisted. “North Korea’s action violates the UN resolution and we will react accordingly with other states.”

The reaction was that a strongly-worded condemnation of the rocket launch was issued. However, it was not so strongly-worded that China and Russia refused to sign.

Pyongyang leaves six-nation talks

Pyongyang’s knee-jerk response was to leave the six-nation nuclear disarmament talks -- again.

Six weeks later, it was up to its old tricks again. This time, it conducted a nuclear test -- the second in three years.

Expressing the whole international community’s displeasure, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the act: “North Korea has made a choice,” she said.

“It has chosen to violate the specific language of the UN Security Council resolution 1718. It has ignored the international community. It has abrogated the obligations it entered into through the six-party talks and it continues to act in a provocative and belligerent manner toward its neighbours. There are consequences to such actions."

However, the consequences were minor. Sanctions were tightened but not that much. The to-ing and fro-ing continued.

Two US journalists arrested and released

The other main bone of contention between the US and Pyongyang this year was the arrest of two US journalists in March for supposedly trespassing into North Korea and spying.

Diplomatic efforts and a highly-mediatised visit by former US President Bill Clinton were instrumental in securing their release. They flew back to the US in August with Clinton, who had been apparently asked by the women’s families and the White House to undertake the mission.

This marked the beginning of a significant improvement in relations between Washington and Pyongyang. In November, President Obama made his first official tour of Asia.

“North Korea must live up to its obligations”

During his stop in South Korea, he made the following statement: “On North Korea, our governments have maintained extraordinarily close cooperation and President Lee and I are in full agreement on our common approach going forward.”

“I reaffirm my commitment to continue working together in the six-party process to achieve a definitive and comprehensive resolution of the nuclear issue,” he continued. “Our message is clear. If North Korea is prepared to take concrete and irreversible steps to fulfil its obligations and eliminate its nuclear weapons programme, the United States will support economic assistance and help promote its full integration into the community of nations. That opportunity and respect will not come with threats. North Korea must live up to its obligations.”

In December, Pyongyang seemed willing to live up to these obligations, appeased by the visit of US envoy Stephen Bosworth and indicated it was ready to go back to the six-nation talks.

No timetable has been set but observers are optimistic about 2010.

Author: Anne Thomas
Editor: Disha Uppal