Waging a new Cold War

Looks as if the worst is yet to come

Luke Wake / Columnist

The development of nuclear weapons in North Korea is something we have seen coming and the announcement that they have such weapons is rightfully a great concern to the world. The announcement brings back the Cold War politics of which we had believed died with the collapse of the Berlin Wall; again the civilized world is threatened by communist nations taunting us with a show of might and force. Yet once more the free world will not succumb to the arm-twisting of nations. The United States must lead the free world once more to guide the international community, in an inclusive manner, to join together in applying diplomatic pressure upon North Korea to come back to the negotiating table where grievances can be settled civilly.

These are trying times, for indeed our hands are busy building peace in the troubled Middle-East and defending our national security from threats of terror domestically and abroad; North Korea knows this and sees it as a time to challenge and defy the free world, by unveiling their nuclear arsenal while they believe there will be no ramifications from a preoccupied United States. This, however, is not an American and North Korean issue as they would like it to be, but rather it is the world's issue and it is specifically a regional issue. There is no reason for the United States to enter unilateral talks with the North Koreans, for the only reason they want such talks is to apply pressure upon us. We must not give in to such devilry, but insist upon six-party negotiations, where we can use international collective will to see disarmament.

America is not the world's police force; but we are the leaders of the free world and as such we must play a role in negotiations. We must be present and strive to see diplomacy work in peace talks, but we must be one of many nations speaking with and applying pressure upon the North Koreans. Only when the world resonates with one condemning voice, demanding disarmament, will the North Koreans drop their hard-line policy. Yet if we make the mistake of entering unilateral discussions with North Korea we unrightfully cut other nations, who have even greater concern in the matter, out of the talks and we give their dangerously hawkish policy credence.

While we may have alienated some of our friends in the international community during the past few years it is time that we invite them again to join us in applying strong and uniform pressure upon North Korea. This is an opportunity for America to mend relations with European nations and, in the spirit of inclusion we may once more guide the world to a peaceful resolution in this newly developing cold war. If the entire western world and North Korea's threatened neighbors joins with us in economic and political sanctions, we may yet see peaceful disarmament.

Still the forecast for diplomacy is grim today and we must be prepared for the worst of scenarios. North Korea is a rouge nation led by a cavalier and reckless dictator who cannot be trusted with such an arsenal.

Clearly Regan's vision of a "star wars" system, which would shoot down nuclear missiles over the Pacific, should be taken seriously today as North Korea threatens our security. Our nation would be wise to work to create and maintain such a missile defense system. For today, if North Korea's claim is valid, they could strike our west coast and that is truly troubling. We must develop a defense system but let us, at the same time, work for peace in the region through diplomatic measures.

Contact Luke Wake at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.