By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took a tough stance on the North Korean nuclear issue in his campaign speech this week, warning the Stalinist state that if it doesn't verifiably abandon all its nuclear weapons, it would face ``strong and increasing sanctions."
He also said that the United States must do its own part in the denuclearization effort by supporting the disarmament objective of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The presidential candidate offered his view on North Korea's denuclearization during a speech at Purdue University in Indiana, Wednesday. He said his administration would strive to secure all loose nuclear material around the world during his first term.
Obama said that North Korea and Iran both have ``a history of support for terror. Both should face strong and increasing sanctions if they refuse to verifiably abandon their illicit nuclear programs."
The candidate also emphasized that adhering to nonproliferation treaties would put pressure on nations including North Korea and Iran.
``By keeping our own commitment under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we'll be in a better position to rally international support to bring pressure to bear on nations like North Korea and Iran that violate it," he said, according to U.S. reports.
``Now, we worry most of all about a rogue state or nuclear scientist transferring the world's deadliest weapons to the world's most dangerous people."
``As long as nuclear weapons exist, we'll retain a strong deterrent. But we will make the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons a central element in our nuclear policy."
Ralph Cossa, President of Pacific Forum, Center for Strategic and International Studies, told The Korea Times that Obama's comment on verification is ``in line with Bush administration's thinking and certainly with Congressional thinking; namely, if there is no verification, then tougher sanctions are called for. My reading of the latest Six-Party Talks meeting is that verification is indeed the key."
``Senator Obama has strongly supported denuclearization efforts around the world and while he has criticized the Bush administration's approach toward North Korea, especially the earlier approach of refusing to talk with Pyongyang bilaterally, in my estimation he certainly supports the objective of denuclearization."
Obama's main point, Cossa added, is that a more sincere effort by the U.S. toward supporting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty's disarmament objective ― freeing the world from nuclear weapons ― would make the United States more credible in gaining international support for getting tough with violators like North Korea and Iran.''
Cossa added: ``It is therefore very helpful to have Senator Obama remind the North that verification remains the key. I'm not sure this would constitute ratcheting up the rhetoric. No candidate in the United States wins votes by appearing soft on North Korea but Senator Obama has also been outspoken in supporting the need for direct dialogue."
``I think Senator Obama's approach toward diplomacy and dialogue is a reasonable and intelligent one and his support for denuclearization and moving toward disarmament is the right course for the United States and one that will resonate extremely well in Asia and globally."