The Clinton administration's rhetoric has belied its policy of concession and inaction toward North Korea's nuclear program. This policy has convinced the North Korean leadership that the longer it stalls, the more the concessions will be forthcoming. While paying lip service to military aspects of counter proliferation, the administration is still emphasizing cooperative, nonadversarial tools. Nuclear deterrence commitments to US. allies (especially in East Asia) appear to be shaky, and ballistic missile defenses are still regarded by the administration as destabilizing. However, if U.S. diplomacy in Northeast Asia is to work, it must be backed up by credible US. military power.