INFURIATED that the United States has neglected to remove it from its list of states sponsoring terrorism, North Korea has moved to resume the processing of plutonium as early as this week. The U.S. now must backpedal, leaving the problem to the next administration, which should handle the issue more responsibly.

President Bush announced in June that North Korea would be removed from the terrorist list and, along with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia, provide diplomatic and economic benefits in return for the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear reactor. Pyongyang proceeded to hand over an inventory of nuclear material and bomb-making equipment.

President Bush immediately lifted sanctions against the North under the Trading With the Enemy Act in June. On the same day, he quietly imposed new sanctions under an emergency declaration.

The North also agreed to allow international inspectors to monitor activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. In August, the U.S. presented a draft of its verification proposals, then refused to remove North Korea from the terrorism list unless Pyongyang accepted them.

Bush also gave 45 days notice to Congress of his intent to remove Korea from the terrorism list, then neglected to do so before that period elapsed on Aug. 11. It is no wonder that North Korea was angered by the U.S. strategy.

Complicating the bungled diplomacy is the uncertainty about who is in charge of Pyongyang. Dictator Kim Jong Il had a stroke last month that debilitated him physically and possibly mentally. Top officials in Kim's government may be making the decisions, perhaps flexing muscle to demonstrate that the regime can act forcefully.