U.S. Role

U.S. & North Korea
The U.S. has played an instrumental role in shaping the latest six-party agreement with North Korea. According to the New York Times (Diplomacy At Work):

The agreement signed yesterday, if all the details can be satisfactorily filled in and then carried out, is a huge win for the United States as well as a fair deal for North Korea. Its achievement became possible when Washington abandoned the confrontational tactics and name-calling associated with its former top antiproliferation official, John Bolton, and gave serious negotiation a chance. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice deserves most of the credit for that switch, which was made with exceptional skill by America's top negotiator at the talks, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.

Will this deal unravel as past deals have? Already there are indications that this may happen. North Korea said yesterday (CBS - Demands Follow Korea Nuke Accord) they won't dismantle any weapons program until it's provided with a light water reactor for generating electricity. For more info on the agreement, see the full New York Times report here.

posted by Joel @ 10:25 AM