It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

AMERICAN POLICY-MAKERS ON NORTH KOREA:

THE GLASS IS HALF FULL

Agence France-Presse ("US LAWMAKERS SAY NORTH KOREA "READY TO DEAL" OVER NUCLEAR ARMS," Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 06/03/03) reported that "shaken" by displays of US military might, the DPRK is "ready to deal" over its nuclear weapons and gave a positive response to a plan proposed by US Congressmen, members of the group said. Congressman Curt Weldon said he presented the plan to DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam-Sun during a private 90-minute meeting in Pyongyang last week. "His response was, 'It's very positive. It's exactly what we are looking for,'" Weldon, who headed the six-member bi-partisan delegation, told reporters here upon his return to the US.

. . . .

"We learned that the present DPRK nuclear weapons stockpile is subject to negotiation -- along with their nuclear facilities and materials," Weldon pointed out.

THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY (AND LEAKING)

Reuters (Linda Sieg, "TIME RUNNING OUT FOR NORTH KOREA SOLUTION -PERRY," Tokyo, 06/03/03) reported that the US and its allies have months, not years, to prevent the DPRK from becoming a serious nuclear power and sparking an atomic arms race in East Asia, former Defense Secretary William Perry said on Tuesday. "The worst-case scenario I see is a major nuclear arms race unfolding in the Pacific. That's not a forecast, that's a logical train of events," Perry stated. "We have maybe half a year; the first month or two are more important than the last month or two in that half-year period," he said. "We loose leverage each month that we delay."

// posted by Kirk @ 10:13 PM