--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should learn to tolerate nuclear…" description: "\"We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea just like we did the Soviet Union.\" — Susan Rice" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png" --- # We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea… ![“We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea just like we did the Soviet Union.” quote by Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png) > “We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea just like we did the Soviet Union.” [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates treating North Korea's nuclear threat with the same diplomatic tolerance used for the Soviet Union, implying a pragmatic approach. **In simple terms:** Treat nuclear threats with pragmatic tolerance. Key Takeaway Adopt consistent diplomatic strategies. Themes politics security diplomacy pragmatism Mood cautious strategic Type political policy When to use this quote - international negotiations - non‑proliferation talks - crisis management Key Concepts realpolitik deterrence Questions to Reflect On - Is consistent policy always effective? - What risks arise from treating threats similarly? A Different Perspective Tolerance may be seen as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korea/) [North korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-korea/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Soviet union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet-union/) ## Related quotes > [If we had made it clear from the very beginning that we were not going to tolerate another nuclear power on the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/if-we-had-made-it-clear-from-the-very-beginning-that-we-were-not/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [The larger picture here is that a North Korea with nuclear weapons adds to the larger proliferation risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/the-larger-picture-here-is-that-a-north-korea-with-nuclear-weapons/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [We cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. It would be a game changer. Not only would it threaten Israel, a country that is our stalwart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-cannot-tolerate-a-nuclear-iran-it-would-be-a-game-changer-not-only/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Soviet Union wasn't so closed - it wasn't North Korea. It was a practical system. People were creative and industrious, so if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaak-kilmi/the-soviet-union-wasn-t-so-closed-it-wasn-t-north-korea-it-was-a/) [Jaak Kilmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaak-kilmi/) > [This is a good deal for the United States, north Korea will freeze and then dismantle its nuclear program. South Korea and our other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/this-is-a-good-deal-for-the-united-states-north-korea-will-freeze-and/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [North Korea announced that they have nuclear weapons and they have no plans to give them up. The White House, acting quickly, announced their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/north-korea-announced-that-they-have-nuclear-weapons-and-they-have-no/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading proliferator of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria. The transfer of nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-north-korean-regime-remains-one-of-the-world-s-leading/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The North Korean capital, Pyongyang, is a city consecrated to the worship of a father-son dynasty. (I came to think of them, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-north-korean-capital-pyongyang-is-a-city-consecrated-to-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ The Framework Agreement is one of the best things the \[Clinton\] Administration has done because it stopped a nuclear weapons program in North Korea. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-framework-agreement-is-one-of-the-best-things-the-clinton/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The reason the world is in the spot it's in is because North Korea entered into an agreement and then did not keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/the-reason-the-world-is-in-the-spot-it-s-in-is-because-north-korea/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [North Korea is going to get away with keeping its nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/north-korea-is-going-to-get-away-with-keeping-its-nuclear-weapons/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [What we have is North Korea still pursuing path to a nuclear weapon state. So the majority of people's trust in North Korea has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-myung-bak/what-we-have-is-north-korea-still-pursuing-path-to-a-nuclear-weapon/) [Lee Myung-bak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-myung-bak/) > [A nuclear program has arguably worked as a deterrent for North Korea and other states - would Moammar Gadhafi have been deposed and summarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/a-nuclear-program-has-arguably-worked-as-a-deterrent-for-north-korea/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [I don't think that the United States cares. They just assume that North Korea will soon have nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-think-that-the-united-states-cares-they-just-assume-that/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [No amount of sanctioning will persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapons, nor will China step up and solve the problem for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/no-amount-of-sanctioning-will-persuade-north-korea-to-give-up-nuclear/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) ## More by Susan Rice > [Since I've had a career, my hair has been more or less professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/since-i-ve-had-a-career-my-hair-has-been-more-or-less-professional/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [What I learned is that policymakers have to force consideration of actions that may not have occurred to them at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/what-i-learned-is-that-policymakers-have-to-force-consideration-of/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I've taken my knocks here and there, but I believe my intentions are good. Doesn't mean everything I do is perfectly executed or I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-ve-taken-my-knocks-here-and-there-but-i-believe-my-intentions-are/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I'm not watching any TV shows, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-m-not-watching-any-tv-shows-frankly/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [The United States really only accounts for about 3 percent of the economic engagement with Russia. Europe is 40 percent, and so Europe's contribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/the-united-states-really-only-accounts-for-about-3-percent-of-the/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I am very aware of being black and female because that's what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-am-very-aware-of-being-black-and-female-because-that-s-what-i-am/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Well, Nigeria has played a constructive role in peacekeeping in various parts of West Africa. But unless and until Nigeria itself is democratic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-nigeria-has-played-a-constructive-role-in-peacekeeping-in/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I'm apologetic when I feel like I've made a mistake. And when I have done a disservice to myself or someone else. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-m-apologetic-when-i-feel-like-i-ve-made-a-mistake-and-when-i-have/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [People are consuming the news that is comfortable for them, not necessarily the news that is real or that they need to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/people-are-consuming-the-news-that-is-comfortable-for-them-not/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I think it's very, very important that in foreign policy and national security decision making, as in any other realm, that there be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-think-it-s-very-very-important-that-in-foreign-policy-and-national/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [There was a hateful video that was disseminated on the internet. It had nothing to do with the United States government and it's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/there-was-a-hateful-video-that-was-disseminated-on-the-internet-it/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Well, I think by any expectation South Africa has come a tremendously long way. We've seen a society that many people thought couldn't withstand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/well-i-think-by-any-expectation-south-africa-has-come-a-tremendously/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Can I be blunt? Yes. Can I be diplomatic? Yes. Can I concoct a mixture of vinegar and honey when the circumstances warrant? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/can-i-be-blunt-yes-can-i-be-diplomatic-yes-can-i-concoct-a-mixture-of/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [When my son was a mere three months old, I started working at the State Department. I was not only the youngest Assistant Secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/when-my-son-was-a-mere-three-months-old-i-started-working-at-the/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [I was conscious of the fact that it could be to my disadvantage to marry a white guy - that some folks would hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/i-was-conscious-of-the-fact-that-it-could-be-to-my-disadvantage-to/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) [Explore all 110 Susan Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) ## More Korea quotes > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/leaving-north-korea-is-not-like-leaving-any-other-country-it-is-more/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) > [During the periods when South Korea played a more active role, the inter-Korean relationship was more peaceful, and there was less tension between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/during-the-periods-when-south-korea-played-a-more-active-role-the/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [North Korea is still my homeland, my country. I suffered on the outside because I was alien, without identity. I was nobody. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korea-is-still-my-homeland-my-country-i-suffered-on-the-outside/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [The hope of Internet anarchists was that repressive governments would have only two options: accept the Internet with its limitless possibilities of spreading information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-hope-of-internet-anarchists-was-that-repressive-governments-would/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-globe-reports-that-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-il-raises-money/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [“If you took some North Korean songs and replaced Kim Il Sung with God or Jesus it would sound exactly like a Christian hymn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-kim/if-you-took-some-north-korean-songs-and-replaced-kim-il-sung-with-god/) Mike Kim > [Pyongyang possesses thousands of artillery pieces 30 miles from Seoul. Just one retaliatory salvo could decimate South Korea's capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/pyongyang-possesses-thousands-of-artillery-pieces-30-miles-from-seoul/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, more than a million North Koreans died during the famine, and many only survived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/a-huge-famine-hit-north-korea-in-the-mid-1990s-ultimately-more-than-a/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [People ask where I'm from, and I say 'Los Angeles.' Then they ask again. 'Well, my parents are from Korea.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/people-ask-where-i-m-from-and-i-say-los-angeles-then-they-ask-again/) [Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/) > [We've seen a massive attack on the freedom of the web. Governments are realizing the power of this medium to organize people and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/we-ve-seen-a-massive-attack-on-the-freedom-of-the-web-governments-are/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) [Browse all 949 Korea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/korea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea just like we did the Soviet Union.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Rice" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weapons-of-north-korea-just-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Korea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weapons-of-north-korea-just-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/susan-rice-4480_korea_we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weap_1093669.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should learn to tolerate nuclear weapons of North Korea just like we did the Soviet Union.” — Susan Rice", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Susan Rice", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We should learn to tolerate nuclear...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weapons-of-north-korea-just-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/we-should-learn-to-tolerate-nuclear-weapons-of-north-korea-just-like/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```