No more bribes for North Korea

No more bribes for North Korea

Kansas City Star: In response to the latest North Korean nuclear test, the Obama administration should work to choke off the regime’s access to the international financial system, and it should press the U.N. Security Council for the toughest possible sanctions.

But Washington should resist the temptation to follow the policy of the previous two administrations. That means no aid or recognition for Pyongyang’s promises to shut down its nuclear-weapons programs and its missile launches.

Both the Clinton and Bush administrations agreed to various forms of aid and other favors for North Korea. In exchange the North pledged to mend its ways.

The cooling tower at the Yongbyon reactor was blown up, but the North balked on other issues. It refused to hand over its plutonium. It blocked inspections. It refused to admit the existence of its secret uranium weapons program.

Now dictator Kim Jong-il seems ready for another repeat of his now-familiar strategy: Engage in threatening behavior to gain Washington’s attention, then trade empty promises for concessions.

The administration should quickly appoint a full-time envoy and be ready to resume the six-party talks — with Russia, Japan, China and both Koreas participating. Washington should press China to apply its own considerable leverage against Pyongyang. And other countries should be enlisted in efforts to block Pyongyang’s exports of missile technology or nuclear materials.

But Washington should not again fall into the trap of bribing the North Koreans. That means no sense of crisis, and no hasty, high-level visits by U.S. officials to Pyongyang. This time, North Korea should not be rewarded for its refusal to live up to international norms.