I agree wholeheartedly with the Dec. 22 editorial, After the ‘Dear Leader’, advocating that the United States “seize the moment to explore openings with North Korea.”

We should do more than just explore. It’s a golden opportunity to make a strong appeal to North Korea that, in this period of sorrow and uncertainty, it should forgo its xenophobia and enter into an open and peaceful relationship with the community of nations. In urging North Korea to this end, we should inform it that we are prepared to act as an honest broker in arranging and facilitating its negotiations with other countries.

A magnanimous offer of free food and other aid should demonstrate to North Korea the altruistic nature of our offer. A major goal of our peace offensive would be to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear arms. An outcome might bring about the unification of North Korea and South Korea.

An open and peace-oriented North Korea will advance the interests of the United States in the Pacific Rim region.

Philip A. Davis, Miami