North Korea says no to nukes...

After years of negotiations, the six party talks have apparently reached an agreement on North Korea's nuclear program. The agreement involves a cessation of their nuclear weapons program and dismantling of their existing nuclear energy facilities. While this agreement is potentially a great step in creating a more peaceful world, I'm not sure that we can trust the North Koreans to keep their word.

The agreement entails the negotiating parties giving North Korea energy aid in consideration for their nuclear disarmament. North Korea is desperately in need of energy, food and everything necessary to sustain a society. They are not able to feed and warm their people, but seem to be able to cast plenty of statues to Kim Jong-Il.

Below is an image of the Korean peninsula at night. As you can see, the North Koreans are either the most energy conscious people on the planet, or they don't have the juice to keep the lights on. (The possibility also exists that they could be AmerenUE customers, but I doubt it.)

Now I'm not saying that we shouldn't be working to create a more peaceful world through negotiations with North Korea, but I think we need to be wary of their desire to fulfill their end of the bargain. Once the energy that they have blackmailed us for is spent, what will they do? Turn their reactors back on? Restart their nuclear weapons program? Blackmail the world yet again? I can't say, and only time will tell, but I don't get a good feeling about the chances of a North Korea that looks anything like South Korea anytime in the near future.

-ND