02/03/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09684

NORTH KOREA

Terrorists and those who harbor them must face the consequences of their actions. While America's role in the war against terrorism is most visible in Afghanistan, the U-S is also acting elsewhere.

American military personnel are providing training in the Philippines to assist that nation’s armed forces in a campaign against terrorism. A recent survey found that a strong majority of Philippine residents approve the fight against terrorism. In Bosnia, U-S soldiers worked with the Bosnian government to seize terrorists who were plotting to bomb the American embassy. And in his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush said that the U-S Navy "is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia."

President Bush asked all nations to heed America’s call "and eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten their countries and our own." Many countries are already acting forcefully. Pakistan has been praised for its efforts in cracking down on terrorism.

America is also committed to preventing regimes that sponsor terrorism from threatening the U-S and others with weapons of mass destruction. Among them is North Korea, a country which Mr. Bush said is "arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens." As U-S State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, it is imperative for North Korea to discuss these "very serious issues in a serious manner."

As President Bush put it, the U-S "can’t stop short. If we stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security would be false and temporary. History," said Mr. Bush, "has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom’s fight."

Terrorism, whether practiced by individuals, groups, or countries, must be stopped.