OPINION:
Too many people still believe that North Korea could be persuaded to give up its nuclear stockpile. Even more amazingly, they believe China would support American efforts toward that end (“A nuclear-free North Korea requires U.S.-China cooperation,” web, Nov. 8).
Twenty years ago, there still seemed to be a chance that North Korea might agree to give up the pursuit of nuclear warheads, and that China might possibly be engaged in the effort. But the world is different now, and the very suggestion that a meeting between President Biden and President Xi Jinping could lead to progress in denuclearization is laughable.
The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council have successfully relied upon their individual stockpiles of nuclear warheads as a deterrent against their use for the past 70-plus years. Other nations have recognized the value of nuclear warheads to prevent being bullied by other world powers.
We seem to be close to another world conflagration. We need much-improved leadership to avoid having the current wars in the Middle East and Europe and the threatened invasion of Taiwan lead to an unwanted nuclear exchange. We will not get the needed leadership by looking backward to lost opportunities. It is time to recognize reality.
STANLEY ORMAN
Rockville, Maryland
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