North Korea had pledged in February to shut down and disable the 5-megawatt reactor, capable of producing enough plutonium to produce one nuclear bomb a year, in exchange for economic aid and political concessions. That landmark agreement was the result of talks between North Korea and the United States, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan.
But the country refused for months to act on the promise until it received about $25 million in funds that were frozen in a Macau bank amid a dispute with the U.S. over alleged money-laundering.
While I don't want to be afraid to take yes for an answer if we can end the nuclear threat (and deal with the regime later), I don't think the Pillsbury Nuke Boy has given a final yes thus far.
John Bolton still thinks we are in 1994 part two. While I worry he may be right, the North Korea of 2007 is far weaker than the North Korea of 1994. Even the same type of deal might not be enough to save the Pillsbury Nuke Boy. And I'm not convinced we have a part 2 deal.
Talk, talk, die, die, I say.
