Upping the Ante

" nuclear standoff with North Korea and Communist regime now claims it has enough plutonium to build at least one more atomic bomb. As it stands now the north is believed by the west to be in possession of about a half dozen nuclear weapons. To build a new and North Korea would need thousands of spent nuclear fuel rods. Basically the waste from a nuclear reactor. And North Korea claims it has roughly 8000 such -- which we're told were more than enough for a bomb. But today's announcement may actually be an attempt by North Korea to restart direct talks with the United States one on one talks in other words do something bad. To get something good. When is now senior fellow with a bipartisan center for strategic and international studies. And -- Cheney is with a -- to -- thank you. My pleasure you know it feels like Groundhog Day all over again -- this North Korea chatter what do we make of today."

" Well I think North Korea you know has as a pattern of this type of behavior where it makes. Threats in an attempt to get the attention of the United States and the international community. In this case it may be to try to draw the US into bilateral talks. With North Korea. North Korea would very much prefer. To strike some sort of deal only with the US rather than include other countries in the region which have participated in a multi lateral framework. Known as the six party process which -- I'm going on and off since since 2003. In the north tends to to use this type of rhetoric and make threats. To try to get the US to capitulate. The Obama administration has said that it will. Talked to the north Koreans provided. That such discussions lead directly to a return to the six party talks over kind of in another -- here. Where we might have a standoff thing in diplomacy what's the end game for North Korea what are they want. Well you -- vast the the most interest in question which is very difficult to answer. You know 11 side of the debate is that North Korea has no intention. Of abandoning its its nuclear ambitions. If anything wants to expand it's capabilities and and be treated as a legitimate. Nuclear weapons state. On the other side. You might suspect that if the US in the international community offers enough economic -- the north. So that the regime can can sustain itself and maintain stability. That perhaps it might take a step back. And curb those ambitions. So you know North -- very opaque regime it's hard to predict exactly what their motivations are. -- the US the strategy is to to assume the worst but pursuit of best in other words. Not allow the north Koreans to get away. With bad behavior which we're seeing in the form of of tight sanctions out of the UN earlier this year. But also leave the door open for dialogue with the hope that they might change their ways and and that's where we are right now who. Well it's quite --"

" Going to be the baby -- and Nixon -- it's good to see you thanks for being here."