The fact that they are isolated and not the leaders of millions of suicidal Kimmunists around the world is another reason I think we can isolate and contain their regime until it collapses. Call them a weaker version of the old Soviet Union.
We can talk to the North Koreans all the multi-lateralists would like as long as we smile politely and walk away from any deal short of their complete and verifiable nuclear disarmament. And squeeze them so that their collapse is slow enough that there is never a clear crisis point for the North Koreans to confront and react to--deciding on war perhaps to reverse a clear collapse or crisis. Call it the reverse of what Iran has been doing--avoiding a clear break while professing a willingness to "talk" even as the press quietly ahead toward nukes.
So I am heartened that we make progress on squeezing the nutjobs in Pyongyang:
Shutting down access to North Korean money laundering bank in Macao, China, has apparently done more damage than previously thought. The North Koreans have long engaged in drug smuggling, counterfeiting and money laundering to provide foreign currency for foreign imports. Some of these imports are for weapons programs, but there are also a lot of consumer goodies to keep the few thousand key leaders in the communist police state happy. Take away the toys, and the protectors of the state get angry and restless. More coup rumors can be expected, especially as the U.S. goes after other banks that support North Koreans criminal activities.
A criminal gang with a UN seat. That's all North Korea is. And yet Taiwan is not considered a country by the "international community." Go figure.
