North Korea and the Nuclear issue

The People's Republic of Korea has just reached an agreement with the United States:
-it will suspend its long-range missile tests
-it will suspend any uranium enrichment activities
-it will allow IAEA inspectors back into the country to monitor these promises.

In return, the United States will supply 240,000 tons of food aid. The new US representative for North Korea, Ambassador Glynn Davies, has negotiated this agreement and was, until recently, the United States Permanent Representative to the Agency in Vienna.

Another condition is that the Six Party talks should reconvene as soon as possible [USA, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea]. These conversations have been suspended since 2009. If successful, North Korea might be allowed to build small light water reactors limited to the production of electricity.

Two factors are very important to consider in this case. On April 15, North Korea will celebrate the Centennial of the birth of Kim il-Sung, the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The regime desperately needs food supplies for the festivities, in order to make believe the population that all is well in the country.

The US presidential election in the fall is also an important factor. Washington will most certainly do its best to avert any possible source of conflict in the Far East. Pres. Obama has his plate full with Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, etc.

For someone like myself, witnessing nuclear developments from my seat in the Agency in Vienna, this comment is good news. It is hoped that the months to come will see further progress in one of the major issues in the Agency's safeguards program.