Source: The American Conservative
by Doug Bandow
“A few decades ago, preventing a North Korean nuke was a reasonable objective. The DPRK was desperately poor and far from joining the nuclear club. Neither of its long-time patrons, the People’s Republic of China and Soviet Union, wanted Pyongyang to possess nuclear weapons. When the Cold War ended and the USSR collapsed, the North was left uniquely vulnerable to U.S. pressure, and therefore perhaps open to a deal. Policymakers hoped that Great Leader Kim Il-sung could be convinced to join the emerging global marketplace. However, that time is long past, and that world long gone. … What can the U.S. threaten or offer to achieve denuclearization? Not much.” (02/27/25)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/time-to-face-reality-north-korea-is-a-nuclear-power/