There was optimism in the air when the six-party talks on the denuclearization of North Korea resumed Monday in Beijing. That same day, the United States had announced that $25 million in North Korea-linked funds frozen in a Macau bank would be released. The funds had been frozen because of their suspected connection with illicit North Korean activities.

Washington's decision represented a major shift in its policy toward Pyongyang, as its financial sanctions against the North in the past had held up the talks for more than a year. U.S. flexibility was apparently aimed at expediting the talks and realizing the ultimate goal of getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons programs. Regrettably, North Korea failed to reciprocate during the talks this week.

It had been expected that discussions would be held on concrete matters related to steps in the "initial action phase" that North Korea would take under the Feb. 13 six-party accord. The steps included shutting down and sealing the Yongbyon nuclear facility and inviting back International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors within 60 days. The other parties are to provide the North with the energy equivalent to 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil within the time frame.