Don't forget NK's ongoing cyber attacks & black market financing. The Iran
deal similarly ignored their human rights abuses, funding of terror groups / use of proxies in the region, and ballistic missile program (which will eventually carry Iran's nuclear warheads). Both have provided support to the Assad regime. NK helped reconstitute an industrial chemical weapon program in Syria. And as if to put a cherry on top, note the exchange between the two nations of technology (NK's nuclear expertise to advance Iran's program, and Iran's missile expertise to NK).
At least we've only given a photo op to North Korea at this point whereas Iran got major sanctions relief, and we unfroze piles of cash immediately. Iran did take steps to pause their program though questions over verification, and the long term viability of the agreement remained.
And yet, reworking the Iran deal (by imposing stiff sanctions for their missile program, malign activity, and pushing for more openness to inspectors) while daring them to be the ones to back out was probably the better approach. Similarly, as long as we're not giving anything of substance without a concrete step by North Korea, talking to them is also probably the right course of action; distasteful as it is. We're not going to turn rogue nations into peaceful democracies overnight.
It would be nice if we stopped pissing off all our allies as well (especially over insignificant ego driven quarrels). We're a powerful country, but not nearly as powerful when trying to advance an agenda unilaterally.
[Post edited by Hoo05Dave at 06/13/2018 12:56AM]
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In response to this post by Hoocinogenic)
Posted: 06/12/2018 at 11:21PM