Although it is nice that an agreement was finally reached, I seriously doubt that it has any real bite. I come to this conclusion based on responses to the talks supplied by diplomats, specifically this one in the Washington Post:
Surprisingly, diplomats said, the main sticking point in this round of negotiations was not persuading North Korea to make the paramount commitment to give up nuclear weapons and research. Rather, they explained, it was North Korea’s side demand for a light-water reactor to produce electricity in return for giving up the other programs.
Now why would N. Korea be so adamant about light-water reactors? Because they can use it to make weapons-grade plutonium. So, instead of simply taking a vote on when the U.S., China, and N. Korea could meet again to discuss N. Korea’s nuclear program, we shook hands, agreeing to take another question from Marc Summers and postpone the Physical Challenge.
