In North Korea, Deterrence Now Comes Before Pageantry

Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs have transitioned from being mere bargaining chips to matters of national security strategy. These are not systems to trade away, they are systems to demonstrate, and that requires real technological advancements rather than simply showy political actions. For the neighbors and the United States, this makes North Korean behavior harder to shape. It is no longer a matter of finding the right carrot for the North, but rather it is nearing the point of deciding just how to deal with what Pyongyang is hoping soon will be a fait accompli -- a nuclear-armed North Korea....