North Korea: How did we get where we are now?

There is a really in-depth series of articles detailing US (and international) relations with North Korea, and the history of their nuclear program going on at Mahablog. It is currently in five rather long parts, but if you take the time to read it and check out some of the linked resources, I assure you that it will be an eye opener for many of you. Excellent Sunday reading.

Part 1
Part 1.5
Part 2
Part 2.5

<>Kelly's hissy fit in North Korea, Harrison says, was calculated to drive a wedge between Pyongyang and Seoul/Tokyo. The Bushies wanted to stop the Japanese and South Koreans from getting too chummy with North Korea.

So, the Bushies want to control the agenda, and their agenda doesn't seem to be a reduction of tension or a normalizing of relations or anything else that might keep peace in Asia. Then what is their agenda?

<>You'll remember that the Bushies got some immediate political perks from the North Korean crisis it had stirred up -- which was, let us note, on the eve of the 2002 elections. Immediately after Mr. Kelly started his bomb-throwing act, the rightie puditocracy was unleashed throughout news media to inflame public opinion against the evil Clinton-Carter 1994 agreement and, by extension, Democrats. Funny how that worked out.

There's more to come tomorrow. Check back with her for the wrap-up of current relations and what's going on behind the scenes in the Bush administration.