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Zeese Comments on North Korea Nuclear Test |
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Tuesday, 10 October 2006 |
North Korea Shows the Importance of Negotiation and Requires U.S. to Examine its Own Behavior
“While I oppose nuclear proliferation, it is important to recognize that labeling North Korea as part of the axis of evil, refusing to directly negotiate with them and keeping tens of thousands of troops in South Korea is the root cause of this problem. The U.S. is reaping what we sow,” said Zeese.
Zeese went on to call on the United States to regain credibility in the world on the issue of nuclear weapons by dramatically reducing the U.S. stockpile and stop developing tactical nuclear weapons. “The U.S. spends billions annually storing and upgrading our nuclear weapons. The U.S. has been deploying a larger pre-emptive nuclear strike capability in Asia. Why is any one surprised by North Korea trying to defend itself?”
According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists:
“As of January 2006, the U.S. stockpile contains almost 10,000 nuclear warheads. This includes 5,735 active or operational warheads: 5,235 strategic and 500 nonstrategic warheads. Approximately 4,225 additional warheads are held in the reserve or inactive stockpiles, some of which will be dismantled. Under plans announced by the Energy Department in June 2004 (and possibly revised in spring 2005), some 4,365 warheads are scheduled to be retired or dismantled by 2012 (see Nuclear Notebook, September/October 2004). This would leave approximately 5,945 warheads in the operational and reserve stockpiles in 2012, including the 1,700-2,200 "operationally deployed" strategic warheads specified in the 2002 Moscow Treaty or Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT).”
Zeese urged “immediate direct negotiation with North Korea. It is urgent we talk to North Korea so that this problem can be managed. Further, the U.S. needs to begin diplomatic activity with Iran so that we do not repeat these mistakes with that country. It is time to put shock and awe behind us and move to diplomacy and negotiation,” said Zeese.
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