Three weeks after its first nuclear test, and two weeks after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions, North Korea has agreed to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program. North Korea’s news agency reported that the issue of lifting financial sanctions will be settled between the US and the North in the framework of six-party talks. The nations involved are the US, China, both Koreas, Russia, and Japan. Bush thanked China, a long time ally of North Korea, for their role in exerting pressure over the nation.

Being short on food, North Korea is in a vulnerable position. Christopher Hill, the chief US negotiator on North Korea, said that negotiations may re-start as soon as this month. While China and South Korea are excited to return to the table, Japan is a bit more wary. Japan’s foreign minister was quoted as saying that his country “does not intend to accept North Korea’s return to the talks on the premise that it possess nuclear weapons.” Other issues which may be discussed in the talks include a South Korean proposal to provide electricity to the North, and the likelihood of setting up a working group to discuss US financial sanctions.

I hope everything finally gets settled. I’m really tired of using these horrible puns in my titles.

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