North Korea not the only culprit

The U.S. and the world seem to be at a critical junction again regarding North Korea and nuclear arms proliferation. Saber rattling in the eyes of the world, as we did before we went to war with Iraq, is not going to solve the issue.

Nuclear tests, arms sales, sanctions and threats of preemptive war cannot resolve the political stalemate with North Korea-only returning to direct negotiations will. The Bush administration should accept new bilateral (or inclusive of China, South Korea and Japan) negotiations with North Korea for a non-aggression pact between our two countries.

Meanwhile, we continue to sell arms to Pakistan and India and to ignore the existence of Israel's nuclear arsenal. The U.S. is the biggest nuclear weapons repository and dealer in the world.

The first steps toward a safer world must be taken here in the U.S. It is time for nuclear disarmament to begin. Merrick Davidson West Hills