North Korea: no, no, no, no, no, yes... maybe

It figures, it couldn't have possibly been that easy. Apparently Pyongyang has already changed its tune from yesterday. Now they demand that the US give them a light-water nuclear reactor (for electricity production) before they dismantle their nuclear arsenal (can you believe, we're not even talking of a nuclear "program" anymore, it's an arsenal already, in the hands of Kim Jong Il no less!!).

It looks to me like the North Koreans just tried to avoid the multi-party talks from breaking down without a deal when the US threatened to walk out, and now they're just stonewalling for more time (and aid obviously.)

In a statement broadcast on North Korean radio early on Tuesday morning local time, Pyongyang reiterated its "right to peaceful nuclear activities".

It said the US "should not even dream" it would dismantle its nuclear arsenal until Washington had provided it with a light-water nuclear reactor.

Both Japan and the US have rejected Pyongyang's demand for a reactor.

Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said the North's demand was "unacceptable", Kyodo News agency reported.

We'll see what happens next.