North Korea test-fired a series of ballistic missiles and carried out a nuclear test in 2006. If the policy goal of the Bush administration was to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, it has failed.
The current situation not only represents a failure in U.S. foreign policy but derives from a problem inherent in the structure of the world.
The policy failure of the United States is the result of Washington's lack of appropriate understanding of the fear and mistrust North Korea has toward the U.S. and its inadequate response to them. Diplomacy should not only take into account the threat one feels but also understand the threat the other party feels and thus seek ways to reduce both threats and find common interests.