Talking about talks with Norks

NY Times:

...

Over the weekend, Sin Son-ho, the top North Korean diplomat at the United Nations, said his government is “not against a dialogue” with Washington. And the ministry’s statement on Monday alluded to bilateral talks as “a specific and reserved form of dialogue that can address the current situation.”

North Korea’s suggestion brightens the prospects for dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington after months of increasing tensions triggered by the launching of a long-range rocket by North Korea in April; its second nuclear test, in May; and a series of test-firings of short-range missiles.

But a fundamental rift remains: The Obama administration has indicated it would be willing to engage the North in direct talks only if the North agrees to return to the six-nation talks that involve the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas.

...

This sounds like the kind of talks that Democrats out of power criticized the Bush administration for not engaging in. Remember how they thought Bush was wrong to insist on six party talks? My recollection is that Clinton was one of those doing the criticism and here she is right back with the Bush policy. Maybe there is something to this "smart diplomacy."