The June summit has clearly laid an initial groundwork for peace on the Korean peninsula, but much remains to be done.

U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Kim Jong Il held their own talks last week, which resulted in a promise by North Korea to curb its missile operations in exchange for food, medical supplies and other forms of assistance by the U.S.

While the tentative agreement proposed by Albright is clearly in the interests of both countries, the significance of strict "national interests" is eroding daily as the exchange of everything from information to currencies to products is continually becoming more global. Increasingly, countries are becoming more like organs of one body, as stronger economic ties make each country's health dependent on that of its trading partners. Aid to other countries can no longer be separate from domestic interests. But regardless of any direct profits the U.S. might reap from its assistance in the peace process, a more important motive for its involvement in the Korean peninsula should be a higher commitment to peace.

The potential for unification of the Koreas will ultimately depend on the collective willingness of the leaders of all the countries that have a direct interest in the Korean peninsula (the two Koreas, the U.S., China and Japan) to put peace first on their agenda. It will be the endurance, capacity to forgive and the humanity of the group as a whole that will make or break prospects for peace. And if the group succeeds, the impact of their efforts will transcend any honor or prize.

Hoon-Jung Kim '01 is a social studies concentrator in Leverett House. Her column appears on alternate Mondays.