The United States cannot blame North Korea for having a nuclear
weapons program in a modern world armed to the teeth; but they
should deny aid until North Korea comes forth with diplomacy and
honesty instead of threats and innuendos.
Even if North Korea is between a rock and a hard place because
the United States reneged on a 1994 agreement to supply fuel and
safe light-water nuclear reactors for electricity, North
Korea’s threats only entangle them deeper in President George
W. Bush’s “axis of evil.”
Like North Korea, the United States can be criticized for
military posturing in foreign affairs; the American government is
essentially threatening Iraq in the same way it is being threatened
by North Korea. But whereas the United States is direct in its
diplomacy, North Korea has not been clear about the reason for
activating their reactor, putting the United States in a difficult
position to negotiate. The activated five megawatt reactor has
formidable capabilities for weaponry, but minimal impact for power
output. Because of the reactor’s capabilities, it’s
more likely being used to create nuclear weapons than to provide
electricity to citizens.
Until U.S. officials are certain why the reactor has been
activated, the United States should avoid direct confrontation with
North Korea and allow the United Nations and other authorities to
contend with the diplomatic problems.
The best resolution U.S. officials can hope for with North Korea
is a long term agreement that would help North Korea with its
economic distress while avoiding any future nuclear standoffs.