Bush administration hits brick wall as nuclear crisis escalates

FOR the Bush administration, the nuclear crisis in North Korea is turning into an exercise in frustration.

For years, conservatives inside the administration have longed to face down the Stalinist state. But now they have a cast-iron case satellite pictures show the North is moving its stockpile of nuclear fuel rods they can only shrug their shoulders.

When North Korea took its first aggressive steps by kicking out UN nuclear inspectors in December the Bush administration decided to play it cool. They ruled out military strikes against the nuclear complex at Yongbyon, and instead of rushing to the United Nations for action, allowed the inspectors themselves to take the lead.