the thing is, people are assuming that NK is now shaking in their shoes because we took down Iraq, since Bush is trying his best to get as much diplomatic mileage as possible out of the Operation: Kill Iraqis '03.

i really don't think that our pummeling of a country lacking any real army or equipment scares Jong-Il at al. hell, that's like telling one neighbor 'i'm serious, keep you dog off my f$cking lawn' and then beating the crap out of the disabled, retarded kid across the street to show that you're serious.

it isn't much more of a regional security issue if the countries that matter in the conflict (japan, SK) are not a part of it. Jong-Il realizes that his country is going down the toilet, and the US realizes that the area is destabilizing. both countries are trying to play up these talks as if the other side is giving in, and meanwhile Tokyo and Seoul are still worried about whats going to happen behind closed doors.