U.S.-N. Korea Chess Game "Equal Right Now"
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday that the United States has not put itself in a position of owing North Korea any diplomatic favors by securing the release of two journalists arrested for entering the country illegally.
Richardson negotiated the release of a prisoner held by North Korea in 1986, and was himself considered for the mission to free Lee and Ling until Pyongyang requested former President Clinton.
He told Smith that North Korea had successfully used the two American journalists as bargaining chips to secure a high-profile visit from an American envoy, but that they also gifted the U.S. government with a happy ending to the women's detention, and a reduction in the rapidly-escalating tension between the two nations.
But when all the cards were dealt, said Richardson, it was a draw.
"We win, America, because we get the journalists out. Tensions are lessened. Maybe we start a dialogue with North Korea. North Korea wins obviously, (because) Kim Jong Il gets a former president on his soil.
"It's a big prize and shores up his domestic base at a time there's some turmoil on who will succeed him."
Richardson said Clinton's visit won't likely complicate the limited conversation with North Korea for President Obama, saying the current U.S. leader "acted properly."
"Since the two governments aren't talking officially… you send somebody outside the government who can carry messages. I'm convinced President Clinton wasn't carrying a political message."
North Korea has refused the Obama administration's demand that negotiations on the communist state's nuclear program take place within the parameters of the "Six-Party Talks," because, in the mind of the nation's leaders, "we're the two major powers — them and us, that need to negotiate their differences."
The Six-Party Talks, which also include South Korea, Japan, China and Russia, are currently stalled amid North Korean protests.