Are we getting close to reaching a deal with North Korea over its nuclear program? It seems like significant (read: some) progress is being made on the diplomatic front.
According to a Yahoo News story (via the AP), North Korea is reporting that it has made a deal with the US on its nuclear program:
North Korea's Foreign Ministry said three days of talks in Berlin between U.S. envoy Christopher Hill and North Korea's main nuclear negotiator Kim Kye Gwan had been held "in a positive and sincere atmosphere and a certain agreement was reached there."
Important caveat: The US envoy did not say a deal has been made, but refers to a resumption of six party talks:
Hill said the talks laid the foundation for progress when six-nation nuclear negotiations resume and that he had agreed with his North Korean counterpart "on a number of issues."
From the report, I am not sure exactly what has happened, but it sounds to me like both sides are talking, and that developments may be promising. I haven't heard much about North Korea since the missile tests this summer, and the nuclear test in October.
Furthermore, the Malaysia Star (via Reuters) is also reporting that both the US and North Korean envoys are expecting six party talks to begin again.