THE TIMES POLL : 51% Would Back Force Over N. Korea A-Arms

A majority of Americans consider the possible development of nuclear weapons by North Korea a serious threat, and more than half would support the use of force to eliminate it, according to a new Los Angeles Times Poll.

But North Korea is the only major international trouble spot in which a majority would support such action, the poll found.

Those surveyed opposed the use of air power against Serbian forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina (48% to 33%) and the use of American troops in Haiti (54% to 29%)--although African Americans and whites differ sharply on the latter issue. Americans overall are closely divided over the idea of using U.S. troops as peacekeepers if the parties to the Bosnian war ever agree on a treaty.

However, the poll found 78% consider the current situation with North Korea to be a serious threat.

By a 51%-38% margin, poll respondents said they would favor “using American military force to eliminate . . . suspected North Korean nuclear weapons installations” if diplomatic efforts fail to persuade the Pyongyang government to allow international inspections of its nuclear research sites.

Despite this hypothetical approval from much of the public, Clinton Administration officials have made clear that they have little interest in the use of force in Korea for fear that even a limited strike against North Korean targets could ignite a bloody, full-scale war.

But the poll’s finding does indicate that the Administration has considerable domestic maneuvering room on the issue.

Support for use of force against North Korean nuclear sites contrasts with other surveys in recent years that have shown Americans opposing the use of U.S. troops to defend South Korea against a possible invasion from the north.

Despite official worries, international issues remain low on the scale of public concerns.

Asked to name the two most important issues facing the nation, only 3% of those surveyed mentioned any foreign issues at all.

Asked specifically what international issues were most important, 24% mentioned trade-related issues. The Bosnian crisis was mentioned by 11%; North Korea was listed by 8%. Thirty percent said they did not know.

The poll, supervised by Times Poll Director John Brennan, surveyed 1,612 adults nationwide. It was conducted Dec. 4-7, and the results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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Overall, the Americans polled gave President Clinton mixed grades on his handling of foreign policy, with notably lower approval than he receives for his handling of the presidency.

The poll found that 55% of those surveyed approve of Clinton’s overall performance, but only 46% approve of his handling of foreign affairs.

The share of the population that disapproves of Clinton’s performance is similar--39% on foreign policy, 35% overall. In addition, only 20% of those surveyed said that they have a good idea of Clinton’s foreign policy goals; 67% did not.

Democrats and liberals have backed more active U.S. involvement, particularly on Bosnia, than other Americans have been willing to support or Clinton has been willing to propose--although there appears to be no stark move toward isolationism among conservatives and Republicans.

On the question of sending U.S. troops as peacekeepers, for example, Democrats supported the idea 52% to 43%, while Republicans opposed it 50% to 43%.

Overall, survey respondents split on the idea, with 47% opposed and 46% in favor.

Even on the use of air power against Serbian positions--an action opposed overall 48% to 33%--liberals were more closely divided, 48% opposed and 38% in favor. On a similarly worded question last January, Americans supported use of air power 49% to 34%.

Majorities of conservatives and Republicans would support the use of force in Korea, however.

One issue on which Democrats were cheered by Clinton’s foreign policy actions involved his meeting earlier this month with British author Salman Rushdie, who has been under an Iranian death decree for several years because of his book “The Satanic Verses,” viewed as heretical to Islam.

Asked if the meeting, which upset Iran and many Muslims elsewhere, was a good idea or a bad idea, Democrats supported the move 52% to 30%. Republicans opposed it, 46% to 35%. Overall, those surveyed approved of the meeting, 45% to 35%.

Overall, the public does not appear uniformly isolationist--only 26%, for example, support disbanding NATO.

But the public is skeptical about foreign engagements.

Asked if the United States is “trying to do too much, too little or just about the right amount with its armed forces in order to help resolve international conflicts,” 49% of those surveyed said too much. Only 13% said too little, while 30% said the efforts were about right. The poll showed few sharp divisions along racial, income or gender lines on foreign policy except on the question of Haiti.

While whites oppose the use of American troops in Haiti by a 57%-25% margin, African Americans support the idea, 52% to 37%.

North Korea Worries Americans

Despite concerns that the United States is over extended militarily, many Americans would back the use of force against North Korea nuclear instillations.

“If North Korea continues to reject requests for international inspections of suspected nuclear weapons sites, would you favor or oppose using American military force to eliminate those suspected North Korean nuclear weapons installations?” Favor: 51% Oppose: 38% Don’t know: 11%

TRADE TOPS LIST OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS

“What’s the most international problem facing the United States today?” (Up to two answers accepted) Trade/economic competition: 24% Bosnia/Yugoslavia: 11% North Korea: 8% Somalia: 7% Middle East: 7%

SCALE BACK U.S. INVOLVEMENT

“Would you say the United States is trying to do too much, too little or just about the right amount with its armed forces to help resolve international conflicts?” Too much: 49% Too little: 13% Right amount: 30% Don’t know: 8%

HOW THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED: The Times Poll interviewed 1,612 adult Americans nationwide, by telephone, from Dec. 4 through 7. Telephone numbers were chosen from a list of all exchanges in the nation. Random-digit dialing techniques were used so that listed and non-listed numbers could be contacted. Interviewing was conducted in English and Spanish. Results were weighted slightly to conform with census figures for sex, race, age, education and labor force participation. The margin of sampling error on the total sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Poll results can also be affected by other factors such as question wording and the order in which questions are presented.