Bush refines view of N. Korea

Less than a month after calling North Korea an "axis of evil" state that feeds terrorism, President Bush journeyed to the barbed-wire border of that state. He looked through binoculars at military outposts on the other side of a demilitarized zone so active that American soldiers here joke: "There's no 'D' in the DMZ."

As the White House defends the controversial "axis of evil" categorization, the president is slowly elaborating on his views concerning a regime so reclusive and harsh that even South Korean security officials say they know little of what transpires across the volatile border.

After his "axis" comment about its northern neighbor, South Korea is proving a diplomatic test for the president. His visit here was prefaced by fighting in the Korean parliament, by several large student protests on the streets of Seoul in recent days, and by a surprisingly bitter rift between Bush and European leaders for what they charge is an "absolutist," "simplistic," and "arrogant" approach.

Here yesterday, in tones that were mild but firm, the president made a distinction between the people of North Korea, and its government. He pointed out that the US is the largest contributor of food to North Korea, a state perpetually on the brink of famine. He reiterated that the US is "prepared to talk with the North," and has no plans to invade the North, and he pushed for a "unified" Korea.

But at the same time, Bush clearly laid blame for a lack of peace between the two sides on North Korean president Kim Jong Il.

"My comments about evil were toward a regime, toward a government - not toward the North Korean people," the president said at a joint press conference with Kim Dae Jung, the South Korean president. "I will not change my opinion on the man, on Kim Jong Il, until he frees his people ... until he proves to the world that he's got a good heart, that he cares about the people that live in his country."

On what was the most sensitive issue as Bush arrived in Seoul, the US president offered clear "support" for the "sunshine policy" of South Korean leader Kim. Yet it was a carefully finessed support.

Kim Dae Jung won a Nobel Peace Prize two years ago for a trip to Pyongyang that led to openings between North and South, including families separated by 50 years of a cold war standoff, and the opening of some limited tourism. Critics say Bush's approach will further enrage and isolate North Korea, and drive a spike through Kim Dae Jung's five years of patient effort.

While Bush supported the sunshine policy, he also stated indirectly that the policy was not working, and blamed Kim Jong Il for its lack of progress.

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