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But the North's leaders in waiting - now in their late 40s and 50s - are more isolated than their elders ever were, promising to be all the more hostile to the West.

Few tears would be shed if North Korea's ruler, Kim Jong-il, was deposed or if he just disappeared. But the Bush administration would be wise to consider that an even more hard-line ruling cadre could be waiting in the wings.

Assuming the US actually wants to solve the problem, rather than simply contain it, it must offer more material ‘carrots’ to Pyongyang