Nuclear Reality Is What We Say It Is

The Bush administration has taken the concept that they can create perceptions of reality to suit themselves to a new limit - a mushroom-cloud shaped one:

TOKYO: Japan has joined the United States and South Korea in agreeing not to recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Tokyo's position was agreed to during a brief evening phone conversation between Foreign Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two diplomats said they would also consult with China, Russia and South Korea on the North Korean nuclear standoff on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this month in Vietnam.

The announcement comes hours after the United States and South Korea said they would refuse to treat North Korea as a nuclear state, indicating a difficulty that lies ahead when disarmament talks resume with the reclusive communist nation.

Huh?