HEALTHY SKEPTICISM IS GOOD FOR SOME LEADERS

President Bush has praised President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea for his attempt to maintain lines of communications with North Korean leaders. But in a sharply worded admonition, the U.S. president has encouraged the South Koreans to stay on their guard.

And well they should.

It doesn't matters where the despots are -- North Korea, Cuba, Iraq, Serbia -- their word is not to be trusted.

Why?

Because time after time these leaders have gained international recognition by promising to be good world citizens and then turning around and doing something terrible, usually at the cost of lives in their own country.

"I do have some skepticism about the leader of North Korea," Bush said. Skepticism is a healthy condition when dealing with some folks.