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It's time to stand up to N. Korea

North Korea's defiant missile tests this week are a reminder not only of the nuclear threat that this criminal regime poses but of how few options the United States and its allies have for responding to such dangerous provocations. The Stalinist state test-fired seven missiles - six on July 4 - over the Sea of Japan, including a long-range rocket that fizzled shortly after takeoff. The tests show how far North Korea's leadership is prepared to go in developing nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them, and in testing the resolve of the international community to impose tough diplomatic and economic sanctions.

The immediate and strong condemnation of the tests from around the globe needs to be followed by punitive action against North Korea and its erratic leader, Kim Jong Il, if the world wants to demonstrate that it is serious about stopping Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. That is not likely to happen unless the United States, Japan and European governments can persuade China, Russia and South Korea to support sanctions. So far, China and Russia have refused to go along with the tough punitive measures proposed by Japan in the U.N. Security Council. China, which is North Korea's closest ally and economic supporter, and South Korea have refused to pressure Pyongyang because of their economic interests and desire for stability along their borders with North Korea.

To his credit, President Bush did not take the bait and elevate the missile tests into a confrontation between Washington and Pyongyang. If Kim's goal was to rattle the West and bully Washington into negotiating directly with his regime, he has failed. Direct talks have been tried before and came to naught. Until Pyongyang changes its behavior and shows that it is prepared for good-faith bargaining, the Bush administration is right to insist that any talks must take place within the so-called "party of six" framework that brings North Korea to the negotiating table with China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

North Korea's long-range missile test may have been a flop this time, but you can be sure Kim, the country's murderous dictator, won't give up until his regime has an intercontinental missile capability to threaten the U.S. West Coast. We have to assume that even a madman understands that a single nuclear warhead launched against the United States would trigger a retaliatory strike that would incinerate North Korea. The greater danger, in the view of some U.S. officials, is that North Korea could provide a terrorist group with enough nuclear material to develop a "dirty bomb" for an attack on a major American city.

That's why the world should unite behind efforts to persuade - or force - North Korea to abandon its development of weapons of mass destruction before it is too late. The United States cannot act alone, and if China, Russia and South Korea refuse to be part of a diplomatic solution, then they risk strengthening the hand of those who are advocating a pre-emptive military strike against North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities.

So far, North Korea's dangerous provocations have not produced serious consequences. It's time the international community shows that it means business.

[Last modified July 7, 2006, 05:55:12]