Strong Sanctions and Strong Diplomacy for North Korea
Oct 11, 2006
Dear Friends,
North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon was a dangerous and provocative action.
It is now obvious that the Bush Administration’s policy towards North Korea has been an absolute failure. When President Bush took office, North Korea had produced enough plutonium for 1 to 2 nuclear weapons. Now, six years later, it is believed the country possesses enough material for up to 13 nuclear weapons and may have enough for up to 17 nuclear bombs by 2008. (ISIS, 6/26)
Strong international sanctions are needed in response to North Korea’s nuclear test, but so is strong and effective diplomacy.
Council for a Livable World hopes to collect 5,000 signatures in the next 48 hours which will then be delivered to the White House.
The United States must be willing to talk with both friends and enemies. As former Secretary of State James Baker pointed out just this last week, “You don’t give away anything [through direct talks]… it’s not appeasement to talk to your enemies.”
Center for International Policy director Selig Harrison proposes, “To advance U.S. security interests, the United States should agree to bilateral negotiations. It should press North Korea to suspend further nuclear and missile tests while negotiations on normalization proceed, freeze plutonium production, and make a firm, timebound commitment to return to the six-party talks.” (Washington Post, 10/10)
The Bush Administration position toward North Korea has been to ignore the problem and hope it goes away while it focused on its failed invasion of Iraq.
While the Bush Administration has been pre-occupied in Iraq, Kim Jong Il’s government has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, announced that it has nuclear weapons, refused to return to six nation talks, launched seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a long range Taepodong-2, conducted its first ever nuclear test, and has stated its willingness to transfer bomb-grade material or nuclear weapons to terrorists or countries hostile to the United States.
North Korea’s nuclear test only highlights the Bush Administration’s failure to keep our nation safe. Countries such as Iran will be closely watching how the U.S. and the U.N. Security Council react to North Korea’s nuclear test. “If the U.S. can’t build consensus for a tough reaction to North Korea, Iran may see that it can go down the nuclear path with impunity,” notes former U.S. assistant secretary of state for nonproliferation Robert Einhorn. “Every single member of the axis of evil is more dangerous to the United States now,” concludes Joseph Cirincione of the Center for American Progress.
North Korea’s nuclear test may also trigger an arms race by encouraging other countries to respond by developing their own nuclear weapons programs. A number of countries may follow the example of North Korea and Iran and launch their own nuclear weapons programs.
With your help, we can send a message to the White House: Strong international sanctions are needed in response to North Korea’s nuclear test, but so is strong diplomacy.
Sincerely,
John Isaacs and Guy Stevens
