Kim Jong Il and His Generals
07/14/2006
Tai Ming Cheung,
San Diego Union Tribune
The July 4 missile firings by North Korea underline an important and potentially ominous development in North Korean politics: the increasing importance of the military in the country's national decision-making.
The six-party talks aimed at resolving the current nuclear stalemate have been stalled since last September. At that time, the parties reached an important agreement that would, in principle, resolve the crisis. In return for abandoning its nuclear program, North Korea would gain a security guarantee, diplomatic recognition and access to the international financial institutions. North Korea has refused to return to the talks since financial sanctions were imposed by the United States last November on its counterfeiting activities.
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