NY Times: US Looking for North Korea Peace Treaty

The New York Times is reporting that the Bush Administration is exploring the signing of a peace treaty with
North Korea:

As described by administration officials, none of whom would speak on the record about deliberations inside the White House, Mr. Bush’s aides envision starting negotiations over a formal peace treaty that would include the original signatories of the armistice ¿ China, North Korea and the United States, which signed on behalf of the United Nations. They would also add
South Korea, now the world’s 11th-largest economy, which declined to sign the original armistice.Japan, Korea’s colonial ruler in the first half of the 20th century, would be excluded, as would
Russia.A National Security Council spokesman declined to comment on any internal deliberations on
North Korea policy and referred all questions to the State Department, which has handled the negotiations with the North. The State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, declined to discuss the recommendations made to Mr. Bush and said, “The most important decision is with
North Korea ¿ and that is the strategic decision to give up their nuclear weapons program.”“They signed a joint statement,” he added, “but they have yet to demonstrate that they have made a decision to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.”

I wouldn’t put to much stock in this talk of a peace treaty.   I think the US may be trying to call
North Korea’s bluff because the Norks have long complained about not having a peace treaty signed.  The Norks have no intentions of giving up all of their nuclear weapons because they ensure regime survival.  I don’t think a peace treaty will cause the Norks to denuclearize because it is not in their interest to do so.  Even a peace treaty that allows the Norks to keep the nukes they already have which is anywhere from 5-15 depending on what estimate your read is not in their interest as well.  Why you ask?  IMHO the North Koreans want to keep the US military in
Korea where they are currently at.  The current status quo is perfect for them.  The US military stationed in South Korea gives
North Korea legitimacy as a world threat not to be taken likely because the world’s lone super power is taking them seriously enough that they have 32,000 soldiers forward deployed to deal with them.  So if the US is taking
North Korea so seriously, than why shouldn’t everyone else?  This status quo allows the North Koreans to make outrageous demands for aid which are usually granted which keeps the regime a float.Additionally the majority of the US soldiers are located within North Korea’s artillery range which means if war did happen the US forces could be easily destroyed thus reducing the threat of an actual military intervention into
North Korea to rid them of their nuclear weapons program.  It is best for North Korea to keep the
US forces right where they are at and a peace treaty would not keep this status quo.  In other words, don’t get your hopes up.