Sometimes in global politics when you win, you really lose. This week the US found vindication in a bank investigation that confirmed US allegations that North Korea had use a Macau bank for illicit activity.
This vindication unfortunately came just as parties seemed to be making some progress in talks, despite other reports that indicate that North Korea is preparing to test another Nuclear explosion within weeks.
North Korea had been fighting to have the Bush Administration lift sanctions, but the key word there is fighting. North Korea is pulling every under handed trick in the book to make progress on a world stage. Meanwhile the US is left in an innefectual position of holding the status quo on a country that will soon develop nuclear missile technology possibly capable someday of hitting California.
The problem is that the Bush Administration wants to be able to demonstrate progress, but North Korea is either not capable or unwilling to progress in a direction where they would have to provide evidence that they can be trusted. In fact they are making every effort it would seem to prove that they are not, while demanding additional concessions.
This would appear to be the downside of six party talks. Instead of the two countries dealing directly with each other and calling it as they see it, both sides are left in a childish game of finger pointing leaving China as the closest thing to a neutral referee, which is a farce at best.
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