| NYT op-ed by Richard Allen. |
A fiery explosion in North Korea has set off an unhelpful debate in the American presidential campaign. Senator John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, has pointed to the blast, detected by satellite last week, as evidence that President Bush's approach to North Korea is a failure and risks causing "a nuclear nightmare." In fact, it is Mr. Kerry's rhetoric that is dangerous. The explosion, which caused no known deaths and did not appear to release any radiation, is obviously cause for concern. (Foreign diplomats are trying to get permission to visit the site.) The Bush administration's customary approach to North Korea, based on consultation with North Korea's neighbors and skepticism of its motives, is exactly what is necessary.
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