The Obama administration's success in negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran has led to hope that a similar agreement might be reached with North Korea. Halt your program, dismantle some of your capabilities and accept intrusive inspections in return for "coming in from the cold."
Unfortunately, there's virtually no chance of that happening. The North already has a nuclear capability and views preservation of a nuclear arsenal as critical for domestic politics as well as international policy. Moreover, the West's ouster of Libya's Moammar Gadhafi is seen in Pyongyang as proof that only a fool would negotiate away missile and nuclear capabilities.
In word and action, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has demonstrated its commitment to being a nuclear state. Moreover, even a good offer for denuclearization looks suspect in light of U.S. and European support for the ouster of Libya's Gadhafi. He negotiated with the West, sacrificing his nuclear, chemical and long-range missile programs.
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