Daniel Sherwood’s Weblog

In response to North Korea’s recent actions against its own nuclear program, President Bush ended the application towards North Korea under the Trading with the Enemy Act. Some of the actions taken by North Korea that contributed to President Bush’s decision to suspend the DPRK’s status included the submission of a declaration to China about the country’s nuclear program, allowing United States representatives to oversee the disabling of the Yongbyon facility, allowing the IAEA to monitor the sealing and closure of the facility, and blowing up the cooling tower as a symbolic act towards denuclearization. President Bush also announced his plan to remove North Korea as a state sponsor of terror after the United States monitors the country over a 45 day period to ensure cooperation. 

Although the United States has eased some sanctions against North Korea, the country remains one of the most sanctioned in the world. This is due to human rights, nuclear testing, and weapons proliferation violations. If North Korea wants to end its isolation and the sections against them, it must completely dismantle its nuclear programs in addition to verifying this action. The country must also address Japan and the abduction of Japanese citizens. The recent events by North Korea have shown progressive steps toward diplomacy, but there will remain a need for the diplomatic process to continue. The ultimate goals according to President Bush, is to have “a stable and peaceful Korean Peninsula”.  
 

http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2008-07-09-voa1.cfm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/06/north-korea-as.html