Six-party Standstill -- A Commentary On North Korea

From The Economist:

Talks with North Korea overlook one small problem: the country has no intention of giving up its nukes

IMAGINE playing chess without kings on the board. One might perform stunning strategies and exquisite exchanges. Bishops sail to snatch a knight. Pawns advance until one pins a rook. But as the pieces dwindle, it becomes apparent that the very goal—to checkmate the king—is impossible.

Is America’s strategy of dealing with North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme dissimilar? After years of negotiations, it appears that the entire process has been futile. This is not because of any wrong moves by the negotiators. But success will inevitably remain out of reach: the regime has no intention of ever halting its nuclear activities.

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