[TigerLikesRooster]

This is bizzare. N. Korea did not talk to America directly. Instead, it talked to Russia which broke the news. It seems that N. Korea decided to hide behind Russia, now that China increasingly looks pissed off. Putin must be smiling.

[Vesuvian]

You can say that again, my head is spinning.

I wonder if we can get in on those talks ; )

[SouthParkRepublican]

I'm in favor of 2 way talks. NK Can talk to the hand...

[kabar]

This should answer the Dem critics who wanted the US to enter into bilateral talks with North Korea. Also, Kim Jong Il has caved in his demand to have one on one talks with the US. This is exactly what Bush wanted. It is far from "bizarre."

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Dog Gone]

This is excellent news. Bush strategery wins again.

[OPS4]

N. Korea is a satellite of Bejing run by the Chinese Communists, So if China feels the pressure be assured
N. Korea will fall in line.

Ops4 God Bless America!

[AmericanInTokyo]

The thought seriously floating around in the senior levels of the Russian military is that NORTH KOREAN NUKE MISSILE CAPABILITIES are unacceptable.

The Russian military study has been completed that recently concluded if North Korea launches nuclear strike within the Asian region, there is a 70% chance that Vladivostok and other regions will be seriously affected by nuclear radiation. The senior Russian military now says this is unacceptable and they have FLOATED A PLAN TO CONDUCT A PRE-EMPTIVE MILITARY STRIKE UPON DPRK NUCLEAR FACILITIES IF THE THREAT IS JUDGED TO BE REAL.

[Steel Wolf]

Hiding behind Russia won't prove much of a shield. This is a setback for Kim, displaying his inability to hold the line against our demands. He will certainly try and rebound quickly to retake the lost ground, perhaps in a different area. As long as we don't give an inch, we can stop his little game of retreat 'two steps, advance three'.

Russia and China may be relatively big players compared to North Korea, but they won't be able to provide much. North Korea is just too far out in left field for them to risk their necks over.

Kim is stalling for time. He would have preferred to let 2 way talks fail first, then let multi-party talks fail. This will cut months off of whatever deadline we intent to impose. We could be seeing a blockade or serious constrictive action against the DPRK within a few months.