North Korea Disarmament

A recent post on Ursus Veritas discusses the ongoing disarmament of nuclear weapons in North Korea and the many difficulties that are fraught in such an effort. The central matter of importance in the articles that Ursus Veritas references is what will happen to the stockpile of weapons and existing nuclear fissile material. In a New York Times article the author references, the following comment is suggested:

It is an important question to ask, since more than ever before, Bush has spent resources and efforts to pursuing this end. He has dissolved and stepped over the 6+ years of conflict between hard-line conservatives who want to oust Kim Jong Il's regime and those who favor negotiation, and vested responsibility and power in Christopher Hill, a member of the State Department who is the point man for North Korea. North Korea has thus far mostly, and encouragingly has complied, with much aid from America, of course. But with all this progress with the disarming of nuclear centers and factories, it is just as important to consider the fate of the current stockpile of nuclear items that has been sitting, unused.

Personally, I believe that North Korea will continue to milk as much aid money from the international community and South Korea as long as possible while feigning good intentions. If history is any window into the future, there is no reason to become giddy over North Korea's stance on nuclear technology quite yet.