It’s Time to Stop Coddling North Korea

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I am aware that we are fighting actual wars on other fronts, but the North Korea threat must be addressed.

We spent years negotiating the shut down of N. Korea’s nuclear program, but they obviously never had any intention of giving up their nuclear ambitions. It is likely that they have acquired enough weaponized plutonium to make a few nuclear bombs, but they do not have the technology to deliver a nuclear attack by missile…yet. Maybe, just maybe, we should nip this one in the bud.

As if the nuclear issue was not enough, Kim Jong Il's government in Pyongyang is currently holding two American citizens prisoner for possibly stepping over their border. These female journalists have been sentenced to 12 years hard labor. Why are we standing for this?

Also, N. Korea recently launched a cyber attack aimed at shutting down U.S. and S. Korean government websites, and it’s not the first time. How is that not an act or war, or at least cyberwar?

Nearly all of congress backed Cowboy W. when he said we should invade Iraq based on: they probably have chemical and biological WMDs; this foreign country’s leader had threatened the United States; and the leader of this dictatorial government was brutally oppressing his own people. I think the argument against N. Korea is far greater. I am not suggesting that we repeat our mistakes and go it alone, but we need to do much more than politely suggest the world should tell them they are being naughty. We need to economically pressure China to force N. Korea to back down. Maybe we should launch a cyber-counteroffensive. President Obama announced he would appoint a chief cyberguardian, but maybe what we need is a Secretary of Hacking Jerk Countries. The best defense is a good offense.

Something needs to be done now, because if we don’t, then our greatest fear of the Cold War could be realized. We could have a psychotic, dulusional supervillian with his finger on the button holding the world hostage.