U.S. announces diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea (AP)The United States announced a major diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea Wednesday. Under an agreement reached in direct talks in Beijing last week, North Korea has agreed to allow the return of nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, and has agreed to implement a moratorium on long-range missile tests, nuclear tests, and nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment activities, the State Department said. In return, the United States will provide North Korea with a major food aid package. "To improve the atmosphere for dialogue and demonstrate its commitment to denuclearization, the DPRK has agreed to implement a moratorium on long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment activities," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a press statement Wednesday. "The DPRK has also agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors to verify and monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment activities at Yongbyon and confirm the disablement of the 5-MW reactor and associated facilities." Despite the stunning breakthrough, "the United States still has profound concerns regarding North Korean behavior across a wide range of areas," Nuland's statement cautioned, but added that "today's announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these." In return, the United States will "move forward with our proposed package of 240,000 metric tons of nutritional assistance along with the intensive monitoring required for the delivery of such assistance," she said. U.S. envoy on North Korean affairs Glynn Davies last week held the first face-to-face talks with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye Gwan since the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in December. Davies' Feb. 23-24 discussions in Beijing asserted several points, Nuland's statement said. Among them, "the United States reaffirms that it does not have hostile intent toward the DPRK" and that U.S. sanctions are not targeted against the livelihood of the North Korean people. Arms control experts welcomed the signs of progress from Washington's efforts to engage Pyongyang, despite years of tumultuous, on- and off-again negotiations that have seen many harrowing setbacks. "Today's announcement is an important step toward a verifiable freeze of the most worrisome North Korean nuclear activities," Daryl Kimball, of the Arms Control Association, wrote in an analysis of the announced agreement. "President Barack Obama and Amb. Glynn Davies ... need to maintain the momentum in the weeks and months ahead."
Kim Jong Il played Bill Clinton exactly the same way. He promised to cease and desist, received massive food and fuel aid and then completely reneged on the deal. Now the son is playing Barrack Obama. He promised to cease and desist, will receive massive food and fuel aid and then he will renege completely on the deal. The North Koreans know what a democrat is. To them it is someone they can trick into feeding their country for a couple of years. It didn't happen with Reagan, Bush the Elder or Bush the Younger because republican Presidents know better than to trust the North Korean regime.
This addresses my last post to you about Iran. Tough position, too tough? Too soft? Risk being 'played?' Is it better to pretend to be 'played' than to get involved in a stupid war with the little jerk in Korea? Not an easy answer in the big picture, IMO. I don't like them having a nuke, but I don't really mind our giving humanitarian aid to their people. For a while, but the whole situation does suck. c
Well, this is a positive development. I have a lot of disagreements with Obama but when he does something right I have no problem acknowledging that. So, good for Obama. Now maybe we should try some diplomacy with the Iranians, instead of constantly ratcheting up the war talk. Right now we're giving them every reason to want a bomb.
+1 - we need sanity over both Iran and N. Korea. Not right/left partisan banter and chest beating. These are the types of events that could have disaster written all over them. Hopefully Americans will work together to figure out these potential powder kegs. c
Everything is on cruise mode. . . . the champagne is still on ice. its a case of '' we will score that touchdown in October '' light up cigars and pop champagne corks in November , dont worry . everything is on cruise mode . Four more what ? ? .