For weeks, we have known that the first news of 2008 would be unwelcome. Unfortunately, Kim Jong Il’s North Korea did not disappoint. Pyongyang has, as expected, failed to complete the disablement of its sole working reactor in Yongbyon and, more importantly, to provide a full declaration of its nuclear programs, both of which it agreed to do by December 31st as initial steps toward giving up its arsenal of nuclear weapons.
“The declaration is critical,” said Tom Casey, the State Department’s deputy spokesman, on Monday. “This has to be full and complete and that’s why, I think, this is taking extra time.” No, Mr. Casey, North Korea’s declaration is not delayed because Kim Jong Il wants to make sure his accounting to the international community is accurate and comprehensive. On the contrary, Pyongyang is trying to convince the United States that it possesses only 66 pounds of plutonium when it should have about 110. Moreover, the North Koreans maintain they have no uranium nuclear weapons program when there is substantial evidence to the contrary. The latest indication of the existence of such an effort surfaced late last month when it was reported that the United States had discovered traces of enriched uranium on aluminum tubing that the North Koreans had supplied to American investigators as part of the disarmament effort. The tubes, purchased from Russia in June 2002, are of the type used for the outer casings for centrifuges, which enrich uranium for bomb cores.
Instead of cooperating with the international community, North Korea in the last few days has lashed out, especially at the United States, in an apparent effort to excuse its noncompliance. Among other things, Pyongyang accused Washington of plans to attack the North. “The reality testifies once again that there is no change in the U.S. intention to invade us with force and occupy the whole of Korea,” the Communist nation said. “Dialogue and war attempts can’t stand together.”
Washington’s reaction to North Korea’s failure to honor its disarmament obligations has been mild. “I’m not going to put a timeline on it,” said the White House’s Scott Stanzel on Monday. Well, Scott, let me fill you in on a little history: there was already a timeline and North Korea has fallen woefully behind. And you’re missing the more pertinent point—it is impossible to disarm North Korea with indulgence. Kim Jong Il has apparently made the critical decision to keep his nuclear weapons programs. I can understand why he wants to retain his nukes, but I can’t comprehend why the Bush administration won’t see what is apparent to everyone else. It’s time, Scott, to stop playing make believe with Pyongyang.
