While the outcome of the latest round of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue was viewed as a cause for optimism, the final goal-the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula-will not be reached until four obstacles are removed.

February 8-13, the third phase of the fifth round of talks, involving the United States, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and North Korea, was held in Beijing. Prior to the meeting, the concerned nations engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activities.

In mid-January, negotiators from the United States and North Korea met in Berlin, Germany, and in late January they held another discussion in Beijing.

On February 13, an agreement was reached among the six parties, which was quite encouraging.

In spite of the progress made, the goal of attaining a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through peaceful negotiation must overcome four obstacles.

Four major obstacles