OK, nations of the world. North Korea has put you on notice.
“Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent,” the Pyongyang regime said in a statement carried in state-run media Thursday. “If anyone intends to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to take stronger physical actions in other forms.”
Considering the belly-flop performed by the regime’s long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which broke up less than a minute after takeoff Tuesday and splashed into the sea, even those of us on the West Coast of the United States aren’t exactly quaking in fear.
Not that the threat posed by a rogue – perhaps lunatic – government possessing nuclear weapons is to be taken lightly. But it would be counter-productive for the United States to respond to the provocative Fourth of July missile tests with any sense of panic.
For now, the State Department might even have a diplomatic opportunity at hand. By working to restart the dormant six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program (China, Japan, Russia and South Korea are the other parties), U.S. negotiators can do some skillful nudging that could end up strengthening our key relationships in Asia. Moving forward, that should be one of the goals.
Capitulating to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s demand for one-on-one talks with Washington would only be rewarding bad behavior – like offering candy to a 2-year-old to defuse a temper tantrum. Japan favors tough economic sanctions against Pyongyang, while China and Russia, longtime benefactors of North Korea, support a more moderate response. All the parties want a stable Asia, which requires the containment of Kim and his nuclear ambitions. Starting from that common desire, the U.S. should work hard to forge a common response and a sensible course of action.
Of course, diplomatic carrots often work best against a backdrop of credible military sticks. Given the likelihood of continued tensions in the Pacific theater, now would be a good time for the U.S. Navy to commit new assets to Naval Station Everett. Just this week, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) asked the chief of naval operations to consider homeporting three new destroyers here. Doing so would send a strong message to all that the United States considers its interests in Asia to be vital and long-term.
That’s a message Kim Jong Il can’t hear often enough.
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