Money Trail Leads To North Korean Deal

Freezing accounts in a small bank in Macau 18 months ago was key to the recent U.S. success in negotiating an end to North Korea's nuclear program, the Journal reports. Tracing the "saga of bluff and brinkmanship" that led to the deal, the Journal shows the Bush administration deploying financial maneuvers to manage a difficult  regime.

U.S. and Chinese officials released the $25 million account this week, and Bill Richardson, just back from the Korean peninsula, says Pyongyang will "move promptly, within a day, after receiving the funds" to shut down its Yongbyon missile site. The same strategy is now being implemented against Iran.

(More North Korea stories.)