Korea Is Closer to Restart of Nuclear Program

From Alejandra Diaz:

The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Christopher Hill, sought on Thursday for the second consecutive day to convince North Korea to resume the dismantling of its nuclear program in exchange for energy assistance.

The main U.S. nuclear negotiator, Hill, arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday with the aim of saving the historic pact of 2007 that promised North Korea aid and other concessions in exchange for the dismantling of its nuclear facilities.

North Korea began dismantling its atomic plant in Yongbyon - but abruptly suspended those activities in August, saying that Washington had not taken out of a list of nations sponsoring terrorism. U.S. maintains that the agreement requires North Korea to allow a thorough verification of its nuclear program, something Pyongyang rejects.

It all happened at the same time as the South Korean daily newspaper Dong-a Ilbo reported that North Korea had improved facilities at a missile silo in the northeast of the country, possibly to test a long-range missile that could reach parts of the United States.

We have to remember this North Korean challenge comes at a time when there are rumors about the health of leader Kim Jong Il. Kim, 66, has not been seen in public since he apparently suffered a stroke in August.