Is North Korea Ready to Talk?
Perhaps President Barack Obama’s “charm offensive” against North Korea is working after all. After test-firing missiles, conducting a nuclear test, launching a ship suspected of carrying banned weapons, and other acts of defiance, North Korea appears ready to meet with the U.S. to resolve disputes. (Source)
North Korea has stated before that it won’t engage in six-party talks, something the U.S. wants. The rogue state also doesn’t want to end its nuclear program, either. Why does North Korea believe it has more to gain meeting with the U.S. one-on-one? It’s no secret that our president appears willing to negotiate away America’s security and strong defense position in the world. North Korea merely is seizing the chance to get what it wants from a leader who seems more interested in diplomacy than strength.
Obama acknowledged last month that North Korea poses a “grave threat” to the world. He said, “We are more than willing to engage in negotiations to get North Korea on a path of peaceful coexistence with its neighbors, and we want to encourage their prosperity. But belligerent, provocative behavior that threatens neighbors will be met with significant and serious enforcement of sanctions that are in place.”
If Obama truly believes North Korea is a grave threat, why is he proposing to cut the missile defense budget by 10 percent, reduce interceptors from 44 to 30, and other cuts? More important, what message does such reductions send to countries like North Korea, who definitely are paying attention our president’s priorities?
Tags: Barack Obama, North Korea