Resumption of six-party talks aimed at halting North Korea's nuclear-arms development, originally planned for December, has been postponed to sometime beyond January. Since the United States and North Korea remain deadlocked over the wording of a joint statement on the abolition of North Korea's nuclear-arms programs, negotiations are likely to become protracted.
Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a major challenge for the international community. The U.S., which has yet to find WMD in Iraq, recently captured former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein alive.
Four days later, though, Iran announced a decision to allow the visit of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Then, on Dec. 19, Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi announced plans to give up the country's nuclear arms and other WMD unconditionally. Nations possessing or developing WMD appear increasingly beleaguered.