It appears increasingly likely that, in spite of all the possible delays, working-level talks between the U.S. and North Korea are going to begin soon. These talks will be aimed at forging a compromise, usually referred to in Washington nowadays as a “small deal.”

Such a “small deal” will probably see the North Koreans dismantle or freeze some of their nuclear research and production facilities, while the U.S. agrees to ease some economic sanctions targeting North Korea – or, to be more precise, not object when the UN Security Council agrees to relax these sanctions.