Lost in Translation?

One theory of the unravelling of the six-party statement is that it’s a translation problem. Behind that theory roars the powerful propulsive force of wishful thinking. Although the North Koreans themselves were responsible for any translations that announced the repudiation of the agreed terms, this piece suggests, and plausibly, that there was plenty of ambiguity–much of it deliberate–when it came to finer points such as “dismantle” versus “abandon.”

Is the ambiguity studied? Perhaps. On the one hand, this was never intended to be anything but a very preliminary statement of agreed goals. On the other, it’s very telling that we’re unable to reach–and maintain–a meeting of the minds on even this much.