How different under a Kerry presidency?
The Bush administration has been strongly criticized by the Kerry campaign and pundits for its reluctance to engage directly with Pyongyang, though some analysts suggest that direct dialogue is unlikely to resolve the dispute. In their quest to avoid being tarred with the epithet of “naive”, they hasten to add that they do not trust Kim Jong-il and fully expect he would cheat on any future agreement. As voiced in the Miami debate, a Kerry administration would engage in direct bilateral talks with North Korea (within the context of the six-party talks). This might occur prior to Pyongyang coming into full compliance with its existing nuclear obligations under the Agreed Framework and international agreements. Moreover, Kerry might agree to senior-level discussions and select an overall coordinator for North Korean policy as existed under Clinton, perhaps appointing a respected senior official, as Clinton chose former secretary of defense William Perry. Kerry would also be more likely to
