The "fastest way" to achieve a nuclear-free Korean peninsula was through a phased approach under which both sides took steps at the same time, [North Korea's official network] KCNA said in a statement citing an unnamed foreign ministry spokesperson.
We want a fast pace to preclude North Korea stalling for time to develop their nuclear threat to the United States.
North Korea wants a phased plan with corresponding rewards to North Korea for each step. That drags out rewards and gives North Korea the option to stop at any phase and resume nuclear development.
Which might be done because North Korea wants more stuff or because they feel they have enough stuff to keep going until they have nukes--and so go back to their original plan of nukes to extort really big payments.
But I don't for a minute believe we have ruled out a military campaign.
North Korea could gain much from a deal. They risk a lot if they won't make a deal.
We must reject North Korean efforts to stretch out the final step of denuclearization. Even if it is true that North Korea is desperate enough to make a deal, a phased deal with rewards reduces the desperation.
I don't know if Kim wants the deal that America must have if the Senate is to approve it--even if our diplomats agreed to a bad phased deal, which I doubt.
