In a world filled with threats and uncertainty, it is welcome news when one of those threats is removed. That was part of the reaction to the news this week that North Korea had, at last, delivered a list of its nuclear activities and facilities — nearly six months late. This was followed by dramatic photos of its demolition of the cooling tower at its Yongban nuclear facility.

President Bush and Secretary of State Rice emphasized that, although the United States would remove North Korea from its list of terrorist states in 45 days, there was a big “if” attached to it. That reservation requires that the rogue state continue to live up to elements of its agreed-upon de-nuclearization program. No compliance; no removal from the list.

The Bush Administration would like to leave office with “success” written on the North Korea issue, but it is well aware of previous disappointments, especially the much-hailed “accord” between the Clinton Administration and North Korea in 1994, after which the North Koreans secretly continued developing nuclear weapons.

The record since, on North Korea’s part, has been one of dissembling, cheating, stalling and lying. It does not inspire confidence. That is why a number of defense experts in Washington reacted with sharp skepticism to the appearance of compliance on the part of the Kim Jong-Il regime. After all, in the past it has used deception to extract food and fuel grants from the U.S., South Korea and others.

While we can hope this week’s actions are the beginning of a new chapter in the rocky relationship with North Korea, the administration is wise to be taking a leaf from the late President Ronald Reagan who, on signing the first nuclear-arms-reduction treaty with the Soviet Union said, “Trust, but verify.”