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Friday, August 29, 2003
Keep talking to nuclear N. Korea
The words from Beijing yesterday confirmed a worst-case scenario: North Korea has nuclear weapons -- and plans to test them.
North Korea, clearly living up to its billing as one part of the "axis of evil," blamed the United States. That rogue nation views nuclear weapons as its protection against a U.S. initiative of regime change.
No one can dispute that it would be a good thing to get rid of the thugs who run North Korea. But that's a notion that we should take up another day.
For the moment, at least, a more prudent course focuses on what can be done.
North Korea has wanted direct negotiations with the United States that include economic aid. This is a classic blackmail maneuver, but it also happens to be the best option available.
Voices from the region -- China, Japan, Russia and South Korea -- all see hope in continued negotiations.
"From what the North Koreans said during the meeting, we could read that North Korea is willing to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue," South Korea's Wie Sunk-rak told the China Daily.
North Korea's apparent willingness to resolve this impasse through negotiation is good news. But the challenge also requires tremendous patience on our part -- as well as a willingness to take regime change off our political agenda for the time being.
Our best hope is to bring North Korea, a step at a time, into the global community. But that won't happen as long as that country's leadership feels threatened.
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