Get tough with North Korea

After four years of negotiating in and with North Korea, I cannot say that I have all of the answers to deal with a regime that defies the expectations of rational thinking, but I do have at least one of them: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea leadership, whoever happens to be the leader of the moment, whether Great, Dear, or Supreme, can only be dissuaded from chronically irresponsible behavior and from crossing a so-called red line (i.e., committing a hostile act, such as a military attack) by unambiguous toughness on the part of the interlocutor across the literal or figurative negotiating table.

By Bruce S. Lemkin

April 30, 2012