Hillary Clinton told the North Koreans today what’s in it for them, if they give up their nuclear program. She said North Korea needs to town down the heated rhetoric toward South Korea and refrain from any “provocative action.” That last part is a reference to things like the long-range missile test that North Korea appears to be planning at a launch site near the Chinese border. Here’s the audio. //1:30
Clinton did not mention sticks. That is, what the North Koreans would face in the way of punishment if they refuse to abandon their nuclear ambitions. The other thing she did not mention was red lines. Which is to say, at what point would Washington begin to turn to using sticks – such as sanctions – against North Korea.
This is a country that has tested nuclear device, reportedly proliferated nuclear technology to Syria, demonstrated it’s total indifference to the suffering of its own people, threatened its neighbors, tested and sold missile technology to countries like Iran.
I talked with Wendy Sherman recently and asked her about drawing red lines with North Korea. Sherman advised president Bill Clinton and then-secretary of state Madeleine Albright on North Korea policy. Here’s what she had to say. //2:15
Sherman suggests that the US will seize the moral and political high ground by leading a renewed global effort on arms reduction and non-proliferation. Some would call that wishful thinking. It still leaves the tough questions about sticks and red lines unanswered.
