Christopher Hill AP PHOTO

Four months after North Korea tested its nuclear bomb, it agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor and to dismantle its atomic weapons program.

North Korea would receive initial aid equal to 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil for shutting down and sealing the main reactor and related facilities at Yongbyon within 60 days. For irreversibly disabling the reactor and declaring all nuclear programs, the North would eventually receive an additional 950,000 tons in aid.

The agreement holds out the promise of normalized relations between North and South Korea -- as well as between the North and Washington. But only if all concerns about Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are put to rest; a tall order.

Confrontation with the North over its nuclear arms program is a very recent memory and relief over the deal was palpable among some of the negotiating countries, but others were cautious. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Hill called it a "solid step forward" but told reporters "we have a long way to go."

What appear to be missing, for Hill, and others, are details on specifically what the North is willing to undertake to remove not only all physical components of its nuclear program but also persuade the international community that it has permanently abandoned its aim of becoming a nuclear-armed state.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 17, 2007
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