'Naive' Hillary Underestimates North Korea

Pyongyang can't be trusted with any nuclear program, says Bolton

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2009 8:54 AM CST

(Newser) – Hillary Clinton has embarked on an Asian tour armed with Bush-administration rhetoric and precious little understanding of the gravity of the North Korean situation, writes John R. Bolton in a Los Angeles Times op-ed. The secretary of state is attempting to gain further support for American efforts to block North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons, but for the former UN ambassador, Clinton's "breathtakingly confused position" will only invite the North to indulge in further abuse.

According to Bolton, Clinton seems not to understand that the North, not the Bush administration, broke the accord that aimed to end the country's nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang cannot be trusted with any nuclear capability—even if it ended its quest for weapons, it still cooperates with Iran and Syria on their own quests for WMDs. Unfortunately, says Bolton, Clinton is exhibiting "a naivete extending well beyond North Korea."

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (2)]

A South Korean protester wearing a defaced North Korean flag shouts a slogan during a rally against North Korea's recent military policy in Seoul, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, talks to officials during his inspection of the Wonsan Chemical Factory in Wonsan, Kongwon Do, North Korea. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service, File)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, is greeted by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda prior to their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks on stage during a townhall meeting with students of Tokyo University in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Former UN ambassador John Bolton speaks during a meeting with Taiwan's Foreign Minister James Huang, unseen, Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

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Adhering to US commitments under the framework while the North was violating its obligations would have been a classic case of rewarding bad behavior—exactly what the Clinton administration did wrong.
- John Bolton, former UN ambassador

Given North Korea's flagrant, ongoing violations, what possible reason could be advanced to believe that the North would honor a new agreement to forgo uranium enrichment? - John Bolton, former UN ambassador

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

riffran

Feb 20, 2009 2:17 AM CST

Naive is not a word I would associate with Hillarhoid...I could think of many other distastefull and hatefull adjectives, but Naive aint one of them...Ill give credit where it is due, whether I like it or not

Doctor-Zaius

Feb 18, 2009 9:38 PM CST

Yeah, let's all trip over ourselves to hear what the worst ambassador to the UN has to say about foreign policies. Thanks but no thanks Johnny. Now that your out of work maybe you could spend some time working on that mustache of yours. It's looking a little small.

Shannonals

Feb 18, 2009 9:23 PM CST

You know CK, I was in agreement with you until you started the Obama bashing, which I conclude your were biting at the bit to do.

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Hillary Clinton • North Korea • Asia • John Bolton • WMD • nuclear disarmament • weapons of mass destruction

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'Naive' Hillary Underestimates North Korea