  We show that the splitting between the light pseudo-scalar and vector meson
states is due to the strong short-range attraction in the ^1S_0 sector which
makes the pion and the kaon light particles. We use a light-cone QCD-inspired
model of the mass squared operator with harmonic confinement and a Dirac-delta
interaction. We apply a renormalization method to define the model, in which
the pseudo-scalar ground state mass fixes the renormalized strength of the
Dirac-delta interaction.
