The Marmot’s Hole

One day a head of the second round of six-party talks in Beijing, and the North (through the Chosun Shinbo, mouthpiece of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) goes out of its way to save the face of its soon-to-be negotiating partner and assuage American pride:

“At this point, the stern reality is that North Korea possesses a nuclear deterrent, and if during the talks, the U.S. reiterates its demand that North Korea give up its nuclear program prior to a deal, the head of the American delegation will hear an even greater ‘bombshell declaration’ than last time.”

The Chosun Shinbo hinted that the ‘bombshell declaration’ refers to the North physically displaying its nuclear deterrent, and said “If a settlement to the nuclear issue is not reached during these talks, it could lead to an uncontrollable crisis.”

Jesus, North Korean threats (especially ones to “physically display” its mighty deterrent) are getting rather old.