North Korea has agreed to rejoin the six-party nuclear talks on its nuclear-weapons program before yearend following hard bargaining with the United States and China. The breakthrough resulted from mounting international pressure, especially the U.S. financial crackdown and the United Nations Security Council's resolution calling for sanctions against the North after its nuclear test Oct. 9.
However, North Korea agreed only to return to the talks -- nothing else. There has been no progress in persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear arms and ambitions, an objective that nations participating in the six-party talks agreed to in September 2005.
With missile tests in July and a nuclear test in October, Pyongyang has resorted to brinkmanship to raise the ante in its talks with Washington.