The apparent explosion of a nuclear device by North Korea in October last year followed many six-nation talks, many standoffs, boycotts and delays that even went to the brink of war. However, U.N. nuclear inspectors with an aim to stop North Korea from achieving this goal will inspect the sites in Pyongyang.
North Korea said it would welcome back U.N. nuclear inspectors within a day of receiving frozen funds that have been an obstacle in negotiations seeking the North’s disarmament.
Unlike Iraq, the attempt to stop North Korea’s nuclear enrichment has relied on the tools of diplomacy, accompanied by economic incentives and coercive sanctions. It often seems that an argument against any level of progress towards hindering DPRK’s nuclear program is met with frustrated crankiness.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said- North had requested an additional 30 days beyond a Saturday deadline to shut down its main nuclear reactor under a February agreement with the U.S. and other regional powers.
However, U.S. insisted that was too long for the shutdown process that Richardson believed it would only take a “few days.”
This financial issue brought the nuclear negotiations to a standstill showing the United States’ hostile intentions toward the isolated communist regime desperate for the funds. To put back the nuclear standstill is not that easy as the incompetent Bush team has proved but some reasonable heads are required like Bill Richardson who went over and got the deal over the hump.
Ultimately, however, if US is to seize this moment of opportunity, all diplomats must face the fact that the policies of the past have failed and learn some lessons to deal with Iran.
