FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (10/10/06)    

CONTACT: Reva Patwardhan, (office) 510-849-2272, ext. 112 (cell) 510-681-7075

CALIFORNIA PEACE ACTION: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST A RESULT OF BUSH NUCLEAR POLICY FAILURES

BERKELEY: The recent North Korean nuclear test was condemned today by California Peace Action. Experts have not yet been able to confirm that the device used in the explosion was nuclear, and many experts point out that the small size of the explosion may indicate a test failure.

“Whether or not this test is verified as a bona fide nuclear blast, it will certainly be a true test of American diplomacy,” stated Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of California Peace Action. “The world does not need more nuclear weapons, and yesterday’s test is largely a result of the Bush administration’s failing nonproliferation strategy.”

In September 2005, the U.S., China, Russia, Japan and South Korea signed a groundbreaking deal with North Korea, in with North Korea pledged to “abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.” Four days later, the U.S. instituted a surprising and harsh set of financial sanctions, deeply undermining the deal. Since then, the Bush administration has refused to deal directly with Pyongyang.

“The U.S. has to return to direct negotiations with North Korea,” stated Rainwater. “The Bush administration mistakenly equates talking with appeasement, and the result has been a disaster. We end up talking only to our friends, out of an unreasonable fear of looking weak.”

Rainwater asserts that diplomacy is America’s best option. “Diplomacy is a tool that can help us get what we want from North Korea. It is in fact the only approach to this problem that doesn’t court disaster.”

“California Peace Action calls on the Bush administration to engage in direct negotiations with North Korea,” said Rainwater. “We need a fresh approach to nuclear issues where our country leads by example. If we want to be taken seriously, the administration needs to shelve its plan to build the next generation of nuclear weapons. The world is at a dangerous turning point and we need a comprehensive, global approach to nuclear arms control.”

California Peace Action, soon to be Peace Action West, is the state’s largest and most enduring lobby for a just foreign policy and smarter security. Through targeted grassroots pressure on members of Congress, media campaigns and coalition work, California Peace Action promotes a foreign policy rooted in support for human rights and democracy, eliminating the threat posed by nuclear weapons and promotion of international cooperation. The organization has nearly 50,000 supporters and offices in Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Santa Barbara. More information on the organization and its campaigns is available at www.californiapeaceaction.org.