ad_iconThe Clinton visit may have many other negative effects. In some ways the trip is a flashback to the unfortunate 1994 journey of former president Jimmy Carter, who disrupted the Clinton administration's nuclear negotiations with North Korea and led directly to the misbegotten "Agreed Framework."
First of all, there is no comparison to either of the situations. Jimmy Carter was sent by the US in hopes to brokering a mutual agreement with Kim Il Sung on the matter. What angered the Clinton administration was that Carter created a treaty with Kim Il Sung and announced it on television before telling Clinton. In this case, Clinton went with approval of Obama with a simple mission of getting the two journalists back (which many analysis believe was already negotiated before his arrival). Comparing the two situations is ridiculous.
North Korea violated the framework almost from the outset but nonetheless enticed the Bush administration into negotiations (the six-party talks) to discuss yet again ending its nuclear program in exchange for even more political and economic benefits.
Bolton is negating the fact that the US also violated the Agreed Framework when it came to offering aid. This was due to Republican opposition in Congress during the time. Despite this, we made better inroads in nuclear proliferation and had much better knowledge on the DPRK then we did during the first term of the Bush administration.
Also, why did Bush decide to start the Six Party talks again? Oh wait, I remember now; because their policy of doing nothing that was promoted by John Bolton was a failure and lead to the DPRK getting nuclear weapons in the first place. During this time, Bolton was the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and was kicked off the negotiations team with the DPRK due to his inability to keep his mouth shut at the negotiating table. Gee, now I remember why I don't take Bolton seriously.
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