Thread: North Korea Agrees Disarmament Steps

Read the full BBC report here.

In short, the DRPK has agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in exchange for 50,000 metric tons of fuel aid, or the equivalent in economic aid. The US have also pledged to remove North Korea from its list of terror states, and to work towards establishing diplomatic relations.

After all the previous failures to resolve this issue, most notably in '94 and '05, it would be easy to dismiss this new agreement as a false dawn. But I'm slightly more optimistic for the prospects of success this time around. It would appear to me, in short, that the US have been talked round reluctantly to accepting the terms, seeing no better option at this time. (Indeed, it was barely 24 hours ago, that the Americans and Japanese were labelling the North Korean demands as "excessive".)

It may not be groundbreaking, but given that the North Koreans got a good deal, and the threat of economic collapse has been averted for the forseeable future (also to the satisfaction of China and the ROK), the chance for renewed stability in the region certainly looks improved.

Lets hope it lasts. ^^