N Korea's dramatic turnaround

Albright clinking glasses with the "Dear Leader"

By diplomatic correspondent Barnaby Mason

The reported willingness of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, to restrain his country's long-range missile programme would be another step in meeting the worries of the United States and other western states.

The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, said after her unprecedented talks with Mr Kim in Pyongyang that she took his remarks as showing a serious desire to resolve a range of issues relating to missiles.

On the face of it, there has been a dramatic turnaround.

Mrs Albright applauded the synchronised praise for Kim Jong-il

Only a few months ago, communist North Korea's missile programme and alleged nuclear weapons ambitions were being cited as the prime justification for the US embarking on a hugely expensive and controversial anti-missile defence system.

Now, Mr Albright is clinking glasses with Kim Jong-il and applauding a mass performance of synchronised praise for the Dear Leader, as he is officially called.

She took care afterwards to say it did not signify approval: she was not born yesterday and was not wearing rose-tinted spectacles.

Permanent moratorium?

The North Koreans were already observing a moratorium on missiles tests, after the launch two years ago, which alarmed Japan.

Mr Kim has gone further by apparently making the moratorium permanent.

But the Americans are pursuing a much wider package: they want North Korea to stop exporting missiles and related technology, especially to regimes in the Middle East which they regard as dangerous.

As the bargaining goes on, it seems that the idea of North Korea getting in return some help with launching satellites is still on the table.

That was originally floated through the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

Pre-conditions to relations

The United States is also pushing for progress on North Korea's alleged sponsorship of international terrorism and an improvement in its human rights record.

The visit was closely watched in Seoul

But it is not clear whether this is a pre-condition for the opening of liaison offices, a step towards diplomatic relations - or to a possible visit to Pyongyang by President Clinton. He will be in the region in mid-November.

In any event, the aim of the North Korean leadership must be to gather as much international recognition and aid as possible without conceding any dilution of its power.

So far, there is no sign that it is willing to embrace even economic reform, as China did.

Other obstacles include the potential threat to South Korea from the North's huge standing army, and the presence of more than 30,000 American troops in South Korea.

But tensions on the peninsula have eased, and according to the South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung, in a BBC interview, the North Koreans have dropped their demand for the withdrawal of American forces.