13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Lugar, Bayh comment on North Korea talks

Lugar, Bayh comment on North Korea talks

Tom Walker/Eyewitness News

Washington, DC - The United Nations security council delayed a vote on imposing sanctions against North Korea for its testing of nuclear missiles, but there are still many questions about how to deal with North Korea. Should the U.S. open direct talks with the country? Should we rely on long-stalled negotiations involving North Korea's neighbors, with the Chinese applying pressure?

Indiana's Dick Lugar has favored direct talks, but he says when the missiles went up, things changed.

"Very clearly, the need is for the United States to work with the Chinese," Lugar said, "for the Chinese now to get serious with North Korea."

That puts Lugar, as the influential chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, much more in line with President Bush, who has insisted on six-way, not two-way, talks.

"Let's send a common message that you won't be rewarded for ignoring the world," Bush said.

"I believe the United States is handling the crisis appropriately," Lugar said.

He warns the situation is becoming more dangerous. He fears that nuclear arms may spread to other nations, and that the Japanese could take action themselves against North Korea. Lugar's comments over the weekend were welcomed by those who have backed the President's approach.

"Senator Lugar coming forward is very important in terms of reaffirming the President's position," said Michael Needham, an Asia policy analyst, "reaffirming the President's approach to the problem."

The question now: Should the world rely on talks alone?

"You try diplomacy, but it has to be backed up by tangible consequences if he doesn't do the right thing," said Sen. Evan Bayh. "Because, whether it's North Korea or Iran, with these radical regimes, you have to be tough in order to convince them it's in the world's best interest and their best interest, too."

Lugar has long worried about nuclear weapons getting in the hands of terrorists. He says if North Korea makes that possible, an attack by the U.S. would probably be heavily considered. A White House spokesman says the U.N. vote delay is giving China an opportunity to put more pressure on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile testing programs.