NORTH KOREAN THREAT HIGHLIGHTS U.S. HYPOCRISY, DISMAL FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY BY BUSH ADMINISTRATION

October 3, 2006

Washington, DC - The director of the nation's largest grassroots peace organization spoke out today against the latest escalation of an international crisis, laying blame directly on the White House.

"Once again, as with Iran, we have a potentially nuclear-armed adversary seeking direct talks with the U.S. government, and once again the Bush Administration refuses to hold such talks," said Kevin Martin, Executive Director of Peace Action Education Fund. "Does Bush know what the word 'diplomacy' means? How can he say he is taking all possible steps to prevent conflicts, and yet adamantly refuse the most basic step, which is to talk, without preconditions, to one's adversary?"

The latest crisis was sparked by North Korea's announcement it would test a nuclear weapon, an action it claims is necessary because of continued nuclear threats from the U.S. as well as economic sanctions that are strangling its economy. If it happens, this would be the first known test of a nuclear weapon in North Korea's history. Analysts believe the regime may have a few nuclear weapons, but doubt it has the technology to launch them with missiles.

Martin also criticized the continued hypocrisy of the U.S. position. "The Bush Administration has called the North Korean statement 'an unacceptable threat to peace and stability,' and while we agree, the threat from Pyongyang is nonetheless an understandable and predictable reaction to decades of equally unacceptable U.S. nuclear threats," he added. "Our government continues to ignore its obligation to pursue nuclear disarmament under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, yet reacts with surprise and alarm when other countries want what we have or act as we do. A policy of 'do as I say but not as I do' is unfeasible in the nuclear age, and today's announcement from North Korea is yet one more example of that."