North Korea Agrees to Suspend Nuclear Work, U.S. Says - NYTimes.com

North Korea Agrees to Suspend Nuclear Work, U.S. Says - NYTimes.com

This is a great news if North Korea really does so. Now, the head of the state is different from some months ago, and many states are watching how this change would work. Is the new leader better? worse?

The previous leader, Kim Jong-il, in my opinion, was not a person who does what he says. He, in my point of view, does not do what he promises. How about the next one? That's what I'm looking at.

Anyway, this is a good step to disarm one of the dangerous states.

I do hope that North Korea is really hoping to curb nuclear work.

10/24/11 U.S. and North Korea Begin Groundwork for Talks (New York TImes)

U.S. and North Korea Begin Groundwork for Talks

By NICK CUMMING-BRUCE and CHOE SANG-HUN

Published: October 24, 2011

In Geneva, the United States start two-days talks. American officials have said that they will test the ground for a possible resumption of wider discussion of the nuclear program of North Korea. 

At the end of the first day, in a statement, Mr. Bosworth said:

"I think we are moving in a positive direction. We have narrowed some differences, but we still have differences that we have to resolve.

He described the discussion as 'very positive,' and added: 

"I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic but as I said, we have made some progress. But we have issues still to resolve, ans we will work hard to do that."

 Last week, American officials said that the discussion is to determine whether North Korea is serious about the problem.


In September 2005, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programs in exchange for economic support and diplomatic incentives from other parties to the six-party talks, including China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea as well as North Korea and the United States.
-----terrible levels of malnutrition children
-----6,000,000 North Koreans needing food aid


"Nearly half of North Korean children were chronically malnourished and the situation has been getting worse." (New York Times)

10/26/11 Panetta Says North Korea Remains a ‘Serious Threat’ (New York Times)

Panetta Says North Korea Remains a ‘Serious Threat’

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Published: October 26, 2011

In Seoul, Korea, “Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Wednesday called North Korea a “serious threat” and told American and South Korean troops here that they were on the “front line” of defense.” (New York Times)

The reason why Leon Panetta went to South Korea was to consult with South Korean leaders on “how to respond to North Korean provocations without escalating the long-running conflict.” (New York Times)

By his trip, Leon Panetta’s purpose was to warm North Korea and China that the United Stated won’t reduce its force in Front Line even with defense budget cut coming.

Panetta wrote “Working together, our militaries will continue to deter North Korean aggression and stand prepared to defeat the North should it ever force war upon us” in an opinion article published on Wednesday in Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s largest newspaper. (New York Times)