The Six Party Talks on Monday produced an unexpected breakthrough in Beijing. Well, maybe. North Korea’s loopy Communist regime said it will agree to give up its nuclear arms program. Compromises on both sides led the way to the agreement, according to a joint statement. The US dropped its opposition to North Korea’s demand for a light-water reactor in the future. The North Koreans agreed to rejoin the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and submit to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said Tuesday that North Korea’s agreement to end its nuclear weapons program remains on track, but he pointedly noted that Pyongyang must agree to international restraints, which will be the real test.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.