Outside View: Hope in Korea

By PYOTR GONCHAROV, UPI Outside View Commentator Published: July 7, 2008 at 4:10 PM MOSCOW, July 7 (UPI) -- A shining glimmer of hope has appeared on the Korean Peninsula. On June 27 North Korea destroyed the cooling tower at its main atomic reactor in Yongbyon in a sign of its commitment to stop making weapons-grade plutonium. North Korea did this after lengthy bargaining for removing the nation from the list of terrorism sponsors, giving it security guarantees and gradually lifting sanctions imposed on it. "I hereby certify that the government of North Korea has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding six-month period (and certify) rescission of North Korea's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism," U.S. President George W. Bush wrote in his memorandum for Secretary of State... [read full story]