The Bush Administration had ample notice of North Korea's intent to develop a nuclear device, and did nothing. Is it a coincidence that the Bush Administration is violating the treaty and so has no imprimatur to speak out?
It does us no good to try to stuff the nuclear genie into a broken lamp. North Korea's first nuclear weapons test will result in UN sanctions. The sanctions under discussion though do not go far enough to prevent North Korean weapons trafficking
Real sanctions would include barring North Korea from international financial markets to prevent weapons payments to North Korea from rogue nations or groups. Another necessary sanction would be forced inspections of every shipping container entering or leaving North Korea to prevent trade in weapons, weapons manufacturing components or essential raw materials. These sanctions should remain in place until North Korea: 1) Signs the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; 2) Rejoins the six-party international talks aimed at disarmament; and 3) Submits to unrestricted international nuclear inspections.
For more than five years, the Administration had ample notice that North Korea intended to develop nuclear weapons, but did nothing. For example, North Korea pulled out of the Non-Proliferation treaty. The Bush Administration did nothing. Later, North Korea pulled out of six-party international talks aimed at disarming North Korea. The Bush Administration did nothing.
Could our inaction be explained by the hypocrisy of the Bush Administration's violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty? It would not be the first time. We signed the treaty, yet this Administration stopped decommissioning the nuclear arsenal and instead, increased our nuclear stockpile. When India developed and tested nuclear weapons, America did nothing. More recently when Pakistan, the Taliban's new center of operations, developed and tested a nuclear device, America did nothing.
I urge the imposition of stronger UN sanctions than the security council is discussing, but I also urge that America to lead by example. We should demand North Korea abide the treaty, as should we.
