North Koreans and U.S. Plan Talks in Beijing Next Week

The US will begin negotiations with North Korea in Beijing – the first talk between the two governments since North Korea threw out nuclear weapons inspectors. The US had contended that it would not talk to North Korea until it gave up its nuclear arms program. Furthermore, it feared that one-on-one talks with North Korea would drive a wedge between the US and its allies. North Korea, wishing to be treated as an equal, asserted that it would only talk with the US. Now Pyongyang has agreed that China will be a full partner in the talks. Though Japan and South Korea are upset that they have been left out, the US has reserved the right to include others. China has apparently pressured North Korea to compromise by cutting off the oil it supplies to North Korea. Although the talks will go forward, there is no guarantee that a resolution will occur. North Korea may still refuse to give up its nuclear weapons program for fear that it will lose its ace. – YaleGlobal