ASP Fellow Evelyn Farkas on thestimulist.com
ASP Senior Fellow Evelyn Farkas posted a compelling essay on thestimulist.com in which she argues that the United States–and the international community–have to respond vigorously to North Korea’s nuclear test.
She writes:
Over the last few weeks Pyongyang has tested long- and short-range missiles—purposefully choosing Memorial Day to show off its arsenal—and issued belligerent warnings about “a powerful military strike” if its ships are interdicted by member countries of the Proliferation Security Initiative. The actions have given President Obama the opportunity to do more than write letters and lob rhetoric at North Korea. And he must seize it.
But to do so, he’ll need to gin up some leverage to force North Korea back into talks about abandoning its nuclear programs. The President must convene his military leadership and ensure that we are prepared to defend our allies in Asia, as well as do all we can with conventional forces to deter Kim Jong-il. Obama must demand creative military thinking about the proper enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 and whatever new resolution emerges in the coming days, and how we might—covertly or otherwise—disable North Korea’s military strengths, including its special operations forces and artillery units.
You can read her whole essay here.
