WASHINGTON -- U.S. spy agencies confirmed North Korea's nuclear test on Monday, even as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that U.N. sanctions prove the world is united in opposing Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
Such strong opposition should be a warning to Iran, too, said Rice, who is leaving Tuesday morning for an Asian trip that is expected to be dominated by the nuclear issue. She will visit Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.
Providing the government's first definitive confirmation that North Korea detonated a nuclear device one week ago, National Intelligence Director John Negroponte's office said in a statement that air samples collected on Wednesday showed evidence of radioactivity. That verified North Korea's claims.
...At the State Department, Rice said the world "has responded calmly and firmly" to the test.
"North Korea cannot endanger the world and then expect other nations to conduct business as usual in arms or missile parts," Rice said, previewing her message for the Asia trip. "It cannot destabilize the international system and then expect to exploit elaborate financial networks built for peaceful commerce."
She said Iran — another government accused of running an illicit nuclear program — should pay attention to the global reaction. That would include the U.N. Security Council's sanctions adopted on Saturday, aimed at making life difficult for the North Korean government and its weapons proliferation business.
"The Iranian government is watching, and it can now see that the international community will respond to threats from nuclear proliferation," said Rice, who added that she believes the Security Council will begin working on a sanctions resolution against Iran this week. "The Iranian government should consider the course that it is on."
Condoleezza Rice is leaving today to go to Asia to discuss the North Korean nuke situation.
Through the UN Security Council, nations will join together to create a sanctions resolution in response to North Korea's affront to the world order.
In addition to sending a message to North Korea, a message is also being sent to Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stop defying the global community.
Some questions for Dems:
Can these nations be considered a coalition united in their condemnation against North Korea's actions?
Is the Secretary of State traveling to the troubled region?
Does what John Bolton, Condoleezza Rice, and the State Department have accomplished qualify as sound diplomacy?
Considering that the U.S. isn't supposed to have any credibility on the world stage, it appears that the Bush administration has somehow managed to lead effectively in this diplomatic effort.
Many in the U.S. government would not be surprised if North Korea were to attempt a second nuclear test sometime soon. The decision to test is considered a political one, and officials say North Korea will be monitoring action at the United Nations and elsewhere.
Rice said a new test "would further deepen the isolation of North Korea."
Officials believe that North Korea is monitoring world reaction to its weapons testing.
I'd say that's a safe assumption.
The North Koreans are discovering how the international community responds to their actions. The consequences are becoming clear.
As Rice pointed out, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran are watching, too.
What do the North Korean and Iranian leaders see?
They see the world coming together and firmly objecting to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
They also see the Dems' response. Rather than condemning North Korea along with the rest of the world, the Dems are condemning President Bush and the administration.
The Dems are marginalizing themselves. Their partisan attacks make them look small and irrelevant and completely out of step with the world.
The fact is the U.S. is engaging in diplomacy that is bringing results, uniting nations against North Korea and putting Iran on notice.
So when the Dems complain that the U.S. has squandered its credibility and has significantly diminished its influence when it comes to international relations because of the war in Iraq, realize how wrong they are.
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