Hong Kong (CNN) -- North Korea's bipolar swings between nuclear provocation and fawning overtures for talks now form part of a familiar pattern. As recently as March, Pyongyang was warning the United States of "a simmering nuclear war" and cut its hotline with South Korea. But in the past week, media reports say it has been taking down the ubiquitous anti-American billboards that line the streets of the North Korean capital, suggesting that dialogue, after all, may be possible. The well-worn formula of ratcheting up the tension and then standing back to see what concessions can be extracted from a rattled international community was a favored tactic of Kim Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il who was a master of brinkmanship.
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North Korea swings between provocation and negotiation
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Analysts say North Korean diplomacy follows a familiar pattern
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The U.S. insists de-nuclearization is a pre-condition of talks
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Analysts say North Korea's behavior is now an embarrassment to China
"I think it's plausible that North Korea is trying to see if they can divide some of the six parties because they realize that the Chinese are looking for talks primarily and I think they realize that the @placeholder wants conditions for talks."
and how will this play out as far as @placeholder's economic development is concerned."