[ OUR OPINION ]
Korea crisis needs
firm diplomacyAS many parents understand, ignoring a toddler's misbehavior is likely to bring about a full-fledged tantrum. That is the course chosen thus far by the Bush administration, which has rejected negotiation with North Korea because it would appear to reward Kim Jong-il's reactivation of mothballed nuclear facilities. Diplomacy with a sharp edge is a better tool to deal with this crisis.
THE ISSUE N. Korea has begun reactivating its nuclear facilities, warning of a catastrophe if the United States refuses to negotiate.
In 1994, then-President Clinton considered bombing the nuclear reactor at Yongbyon but instead negotiated a settlement in which North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear project and the United States reciprocated with oil and food. Faced with intelligence that it was in breach of the agreement, Pyongyang admitted in October that it had a secret uranium-enrichment program, and the Bush administration responded this month by cutting off oil shipments.
North Korea now has stepped up the process of reactivating the Yongbyon reactor, claiming speciously that it needs the electricity. It has warned of an "uncontrollable catastrophe" if the United States keeps giving it the cold shoulder and has ordered the expulsion of United Nations nuclear inspectors. While preferring to focus on Iraq, President Bush must consider the possibility that Kim is not bluffing.
Complicating the situation is last week's election of Roh Moo Hyun as president of South Korea. Roh is a strong proponent of engagement by the two Koreas and independence from Washington, which he has called heavy-handed. The election may have encouraged Kim to put the U.S.-South Korea alliance to the test.
Both Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., the outgoing chairman, have called for the United States to work with other countries, including South Korea, Russia, Japan and China, in dealing with North Korea. Secretary of State Colin Powell has wisely contacted high officials in Russia, France, Britain, South Korea, Japan and China about ways to find a peaceful resolution. The U.N. Security Council plans to discuss the situation on Jan. 6.
Responding by negotiating directly with Pyongyang could convey to North Korea and other countries that the United States can be blackmailed. Acting with other countries in negotiating a resumption of aid to North Korea with the caveat that military force could be employed in case of further breaches would be more effective.
"We need to get engaged with South Korea and figure out how to solve this diplomatically," warns James Lancey, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, "since war would be catastrophic."
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Brace yourself for
New Year’s smokeA decline in sales of fireworks leading up to New Year's Eve should result in a quieter evening, but that won't necessarily lessen the danger. A black market in illegal aerial fireworks poses the most serious risk to people and property. In the absence of an outright ban on fireworks, stricter enforcement of current law is needed.
THE ISSUE Fewer retailers had licenses to sell firecrackers in the opening day of sales on Oahu, but the black market poses a threat.
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano supported a total ban and was supported by the Honolulu fire and police departments. The Legislature must find the courage to address this issue.
The number of fireworks permits issued by counties appears likely to decline for the third straight year. Fireworks licenses have been issued to 93 retailers, compared with 111 last year, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. Licenses for importation, wholesale and storage are less than half of last year's total.
That doesn't mean less smoke in the air. Noiseless items such as sparklers have increased in popularity, and they emit at least as much smoke as fireworks. While smoke levels in 1999 and 2000 New Year's celebrations were much higher than in 2001, air quality was unacceptable a year ago at many points on Oahu as midnight neared. The increased smoke was attributed to the lack of wind and more firecrackers than aerials near the ground-level monitoring system.
A law that went into effect three years ago requires a $25 fee for permits to issue a string of up to 5,000 firecrackers. The city reported selling 186 such permits on Tuesday, when fireworks went on sale at retail outlets, up from 124 permits at the same time last year. The number of permits sold in the final week of last year was less than two-thirds the 6,427 sold before the previous New Year's celebration. Aerial fireworks are allowed at organized events.
The World Health Organization reported to the city more than a year ago that the state law allowing the purchase of unlimited amounts of firecrackers for New Year's Eve celebrations encourages the proliferation of black market vendors who sell aerial fireworks. "The unlawful and unrestricted use of common and aerial fireworks continues to place the citizens of the City and County of Honolulu at risk for personal injury, related respiratory problems and property damage," WHO reported.
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Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
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