Richardson: Let's reward the NORKs for missile strikes

First, he'd have us engage in bilateral talks, then bring in the goodies.

Diplomatic efforts with strong, high-level negotiators are the only way we have made progress on dealing with this rogue nation in the past. I saw this when I successfully led face-to-face negotiations for the release of an American hostage from North Korea in the mid-1990s. Condemnation from the United Nations Security Council and economic sanctions from North Korea's Asian neighbors are a place to start, but we cannot afford to isolate this unpredictable nation further.

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We must turn North Korea away from its nuclear brinkmanship and toward providing a stable food supply and more opportunity for its people. This means direct engagement from the highest levels in Washington employing all the tools at our disposal.

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An attractive package of incentives along with strong sanctions for noncompliance would go a long way toward bringing North Korea back into the world community.

Because giving into North Korean demands has worked so well for us in the past.