Pyongyang at crossroads.

(From The Korea Herald)

The crisis that has been escalating over North Korea's program to develop nuclear weapons should now be winding down, as the United States has made a major shift in its posture - from no reward for "nuclear blackmail" to a negotiated settlement. Still, Washington has a long way to go until it succeeds in persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambition once and for all.

In a sudden departure from his long-held policy of not engaging Pyongyang until it dismantles its suspect nuclear facilities, U.S. President George W. Bush has recently offered a "bold initiative" for settlement, which would include energy and other types of aid, and …