U.S. Looks Ready to Re-engage North Korea

[alp227]

Source: NYT

The United States is poised to resume long-suspended talks with North Korea next week in Geneva and plans to appoint a full-time envoy with a background in nuclear issues, officials said Wednesday.

The current envoy, Stephen Bosworth, will be replaced by Glyn Davies, the U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to U.S. officials quoted by The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement was expected later in the day.

Korea specialists here said that they would not read too much into Mr. Bosworth’s departure — he has divided his time between his Korea duties and his position as dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, near Boston — but that the appointment of a full-time replacement would allow more intensive contacts. They also said no breakthrough seemed imminent.

“Does this mean the U.S. is shying away from punitive measures? Does it mean a major change in strategy? Does it mean we’re on the cusp of a breakthrough? The answer to all those is no,” said Bruce Klingner, a specialist in Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. “I think really it’s more a change in tactics.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/world/asia/united-states-looks-ready-to-re-engage-north-korea.html

[SpartanDem]

1. At least they're trying

but I don't think it'll go anywhere with that nut still running the place.