Northern Korea has begun expanding its missile site at Tonghae, on the northeast coast, as well as its missile site at Sohae, on the northwest coast, in order to enable them to handle larger—longer-range and/or bigger payload—missiles.

Northern Korea also has restarted its plutonium reactor at Yongbyon.  Recall that the only viable product from a plutonium reactor is weapons-grade plutonium.

All of this comes against the backdrop of northern Korea’s oft-repeated claims of being willing to enter into talks about trading disarmament for food aid.

But why should they not resume, along with continuing empty dialogs?  Our administration is well-known to have no heart for anything other than chit-chat and acquiescence.