A Spark of Hope in Korea?

I have never been able to even speculate on the intentions or strategy of the North Korean government. As Churchill once said about Russia, North Korea today could be considered a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." Therefore I don't have a great deal to say about the article that led to this post.

Nevertheless, I couldn't resist posting a link as it is a rare piece of news on North Korea that is not bad - and even a bit encouraging. The article is light on substance - frankly, it's only worth reading if you are desperate for any news related to American foreign policy that is not bad. The first sentence pretty much sums up the 'good' news:

North Korea said it was willing to consider first steps to ending its nuclear
arms program at six-party talks that opened on Thursday, with China drafting a
deal that could mark rare progress in the tortuous negotiations.

It's encouraging that China is playing a central role, and that this possible breakthrough is occurring in the context of the six-party talks.

Of course, this stance could be totally reversed the next time a North Korean diplomat steps in front of a camera, but I thought we should savor the moment...