The North Korean WMD problem is comparable to Iraq's. In Iraq the UN managed to destroy most, if not all, of Iraq's WMDs. Then they got attacked.
Learning from recent history and US rhetoric(axis of evil speech and other verbal attacks on North Korea) the North Koreans have said OK, we keep our WMDs, that should hold the US at bay.
The North Koreans then offer to disarm. Conditions: aid to North Korea, non-aggression guarantees, and recognition by the US. The US has conditions too. Disarm, then aid to North Korea, recognition, and non-aggression guarantees.
No one trusts the North Koreans and the North Koreans don't trust the US.
So my question is how does one reach a solution to the problem of North Korean WMDs?
This is a very tough nut to crack. North Korea has threatened to test its WMDs, The US believes that North Korea has 1-2 weapons, and everyone is very worried about the situation.
The UN managed to get rid of Iraq's WMDs so a possible solution is that North Korea gets aid, recognition, and non-aggression guarantees in exchange for UN/USA control that the WMDs and their production facilities are removed/destroyed.
Getting to this solution will require a lot of back door diplomacy out of the public sphere and free of rhetoric. Any attempt by the US to negotiate from a pedestal would be counter-productive. |
