Washington Examiner - Bill Frist: The World Must Stand Firmly Against North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions

BILL FRIST: THE WORLD MUST STAND FIRMLY AGAINST NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS

Publication: Washington Examiner - Washington, D.C.

October 2006 - Together, the nations of the world must stop North Korea.

Whether or not the communist state actually tested a nuclear weapon last week, its provocations have gone on long enough. North Korea's claim that it has nuclear weapons destabilizes much of Asia, threatens Japan and could begin a regional arms race. The regime¹s recent actions require us to take a tough posture, offering lots of sticks and very few carrots, to compel North Korea to give up its nuclear program. While the United States must lead by example, we must also recognize that other nations will have to follow our lead in order for us to achieve our objectives.

While the United States already forbids trade with North Korea, we can do more. A bill that I wrote, which the president signed Friday, provides for tough sanctions on anyone who assists North Korea¹s weapons programs. This U.S. sanctions regime, identical to those we¹ve already established for Iran and Syria, would penalize foreign governments, companies and individuals that sell North Korea weapons of mass destruction, missiles, advanced conventional weapons and related items.

But strengthened U.S. sanctions alone won¹t show the North that the world means business. While the United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea, only time will tell how well they work. We can¹t sit back: the United States must encourage all its allies to impose enhanced trade sanctions on North Korea and review aid programs to make sure that humanitarian aid isn¹t diverted for military use.

One scholar has called North Korea's foreign policy an exercise in "tribute seeking diplomacy". While the food aid we provided to North Korea was justified on humanitarian grounds, the non-humanitarian assistance we have provided simply rewarded the communist regime¹s incessant saber-rattling. The Bush administration must leave no doubt that this gravy train has come to a stop.

At minimum, I believe that President Bush should make it absolutely clear that we will not reward North Korea¹s claimed nuclear test by now acceding to North Korea's demand for direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Now, more than ever, we need to stick with the six-party talk formula the administration has insisted upon in the past: Japan, Russia, The People's Republic of China and South Korea all have major interests at stake; all should have a place at the table.

Nations geographically closer to North Korea will also have to consider adjustments to their military postures in response to the new, more ominous threat environment, and the United States should support any prudent efforts they undertake. North Korean artillery could easily destroy much of Seoul and kill an enormous number of the mega-city's 12 million residents.

Medium-range missiles launched from North Korea, likewise, could rain enormously destructive conventional or nuclear warheads on Tokyo. We must support the steps Japan is now compelled to take to be assured of its ability to deter a nuclear and missile-armed North Korea. And working with our allies in South Korea, we need to ensure that the U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula are deployed in a manner that deters North Korea and does not limit our own ability to respond as necessary to further North Korean provocations.

Eventually, the bizarre hereditary communist dictatorship that governs North Korea needs to end. The communist state must free its people and hold democratic elections. It must set aside its rigid command economy and unleash the genius of its people. And at some point in the future, if the people of both countries want it, a peaceful North and South Korea should reunify.

In the meantime, the world must take a firm and consistent line to get North Korea to renounce its ambition of threatening world peace with nuclear weapons.

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