NORTH KOREAN NUKE DEAL
Hard to say that the Bush administration’s recently negotiated deal with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program isn’t a positive step. Cautious optimism and use of the agreement as a platform on which to build toward removing nuclear materials and technology from North Korea is about the best we can hope for, short of launching a major war for regime change ( which we are not placed to do and no one would support, short of some reckless military action by Pyongyang). A few seeds placed in the working groups section of the agreement from which a larger, regional, security structure, perhaps an ” East Asian NATO”, can grow.
A good round-up of links by CKR of Whirledview and sensible commentary by Dave Schuler of The Glittering Eye. Nice pre-deal analysis by Dr. Barnett.
February 17th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
“Cautious optimism” i sthe watchword here given NK on prior agreements.
I agree that if an Asian Nato could grow out of this (US, Japan, SK, China, Aussies and Kiwis?, Taiwan? ) that would be a good thing.