Adhering to the action-for-action framework of the February 13, 2007 agreement, North Korea and the United States traded symbolic actions last week that grabbed the headlines—explosive video footage of North Korea’s destroying part of its Yongbyon nuclear complex and announcements of dramatic change in Bush administration’s policies. Before the dust from the fallen 20-meter tall cooling tower could even settle, however, concerns throughout Washington (and Japan) were voiced in full volume. Has the United States finally learned how to play North Korea’s shell game?