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China-Japan-Koreas
Support for Korea resolution fades
2006-07-10
South Korea has distanced itself from a UN initiative to impose punitive sanctions on its northern neighbour, increasing pressure to find a diplomatic solution to the missile row. After North Korea test-fired seven missiles last week, Japan formally introduced a UN resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, to impose sanctions against Pyongyang's missile programme. But in the face of strong opposition from Security Council members China and Russia, the senior US envoy for North Korea said on Sunday he backed Beijing's proposal for talks.

For its part, South Korea questioned whether UN sanctions would help resolve the latest row or make the region any safer. "For the time being, we do not have clear grounds or reasoning that these sanctions will work for preventing any missile proliferation, or any factors that destabilise the regional stability," Song Min-soon, the presidential national security adviser, told Reuters.
This is good news. Seriously. We learn, better and better, who are friends are (Japan, Australia) and aren't (S Korea); who's willing to use a cats' paw to diddle with us (China, Russia), and so on.

Bring home all but a brigade of 2ID, move that brigade to Pusan, move the air to Okinawa, Darwin and Guam, and work like heck with the Japanese to perfect our ballistic missile defense system. South Korea just isn't worth it. Demonstrate that to the Chinese in a convincing way and they have no remaining reason to keep Kimmie around.
Posted by:Fred

#23  Pull out and fall back to Japan.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-07-10 18:28  

#22  I totally agree with Fred's comments. It is ashame, though, that older South Koreans who can remember how the USA saved their country from darkness (literally) and are very much appreciative, will have to suffer the consequences of their nitwit grandchildren. Most of the South Korean youth, save for perhaps those serving in their excellent military, have been the willing subjects of Marxist professors and teachers (just like here!) for nearly three decades. As a result, they see America as evil and the Toad Stool in the North as a charming fella who really likes platform shoes and big dance productions.

Good luck to you idiots and again, my heartfelt sympathies to the older, pro-American generation of South Koreans.
Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden   2006-07-10 16:29  

#21  Chinarrhea
Posted by: SuperSimple   2006-07-10 15:28  

#20  Enablers?
Posted by: Mike   2006-07-10 14:35  

#19  OK, so if China, North Korea and South Korea all have their interests aligned, what should they be called?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-10 14:23  

#18  mac: I believe the precise term for this condition is "co-dependency."
Posted by: Mike   2006-07-10 14:14  

#17  Guys, I'm here in SK and I promise you that SK would do damned near anything to prop up Kimmie. These folks here know very well that if he goes down they get stuck with the check for rebuilding one of the world's poorest countries. Here in Sorkland, by dint of one hell of a lot of hard work, they've dragged themselves up from zilch in 1953 to being the world's 11th largest economy. They're scared to death of falling back now that they've started to live the good life. Chinese competition already has them rattled and they know that taking on economic responsibility for Kimmie's Krazy Krowd after a collapse would be like jumping overboard holding the anchor. They're not doing it unless they are absolutely forced to. If pissing the US off is part of the cost of keeping Kimmie afloat, then they'll piss off the US. For the Sorks, it's the difference between the flu and pancreatic cancer and, make no mistake, they see it in exactly those type of life-and-death terms.
Posted by: mac   2006-07-10 14:01  

#16  I gotta have my Hyundai and Emergency Lust Kit.
Posted by: Victim of Love Potion Number 4   2006-07-10 13:36  

#15  I think we could do without Hyundai....
Posted by: NOLA "Victim"   2006-07-10 13:32  

#14  Aw, Broadhead, you ruined everything :-)
Posted by: Sherert Ulinens6776   2006-07-10 13:20  

#13  NOLA, and all others who would like to see the SKors get bitch slapped for their perfidy: I agree in that the SKors are total ingrates but as they are our no.5 trading partner I don't see it happening. We won't leave. It's pure economics and politics, as much as it chaps my arse that's the way it is.
Posted by: Broadhead6   2006-07-10 11:38  

#12  Really, can someone please tell me what would be so bad about the North Koreans over running the South Koreans? Back in the 1950s, we were trying to stop communists, but why defend South Korea now? China will always keep them in check.
I say withdraw the 2nd ID and any other sizable units, and let the South Koreans deal with it.

Or, instead of reacting to NK all of the time, strike their launch pads, and then say to them, now "What are YOU going to do about it?" If Kimmie gets mad and wants to overrun SK, go for it. But we won't let him threaten us with anything.
Posted by: NOLA "Victim"   2006-07-10 11:17  

#11   I can't see reunification happening under current conditions. It would mean Kimmie giving up power and the South Koreans taking a major hit to their economy and lifestyle.

heh.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-10 11:13  

#10  I can't see reunification happening under current conditions. It would mean Kimmie giving up power and the South Koreans taking a major hit to their economy and lifestyle.
Posted by: Mike   2006-07-10 11:12  

#9  While North Korean missles can't hit Hawaii they certainly can hit US troops in South Korea. These troops are more targets then they are deterrents. Removing them, besides being a nice message to S. Korea and an economic penalty to them, would actually strengthen our hand in dealing with N. Korea. It might also sober up China and Russia who won't judge us as being serious until we start taking steps like that.
Posted by: Odysseus   2006-07-10 09:55  

#8  Screw the Sorks. They like 'em so much, they can have the same sanctions.
Posted by: mojo   2006-07-10 09:51  

#7  The other result would be Korea re-uniting. A united nuclear Korea would mean Japan would have to re-arm pronto. China would also have a much bigger problem. We should start negotiating with KIJ for unification as a result of our withdrawal. See how the SKors like being a bullseye for nukes instead of artillery.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-10 07:16  

#6  One of the end results of this little dance will be a rearmed Japan with theatre missile defenses and possibly even nukes. Do China and South Korea truly appreciate that that's where we're heading?
Posted by: Mike   2006-07-10 07:06  

#5  Tired of protecting countries that don't want to be protected. Let's get out and if SK doesn't stop us, so be it.
Posted by: Ebbomolet Javins8960   2006-07-10 01:58  

#4  HHHHHmmmm, the Norkies get to threaten America-Allies wid nuclear war, plus no concessions or compromise wid America ever, yet the burden is on America to prove that NK has enuff alleged nukes to alleged fight said alleged Nork-poclaimed nuclear war. NK = SSSSSSHHHHHHHH, CHINA > can make any provocation they want, ergo its America's, and only America's, fault for potens responding wid any MilPol force and sanction. In sum, America will be held at fault for any KOREAN WAR II by America-Allies mil responding in reaction to NK's unilateral provocation and unilateral nuclear war threat, i.e. America-Allies should know better than to trust Commies-Stalinists whom claim to be telling the truth. YEP, UNQUESTIONABLE ITS AMERICA'S FAULT COMMUNISTS HAVE TO UNILATERALLY, UNSOLICITEDLY, AND VOLUNTARILY LIE AND DECEIVE ON THEIR OWN ACCORD.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-07-10 01:43  

#3  People shouldn't be surprised by SKs position. The political establishment obviously will do anything to prevent confrontation, and they are being egged on (or at least given political cover) by the youths. The old folks have seen how they have progressed from being socioeconomically on par with the NKs, to where they are 50 years later. The youth movement need a serious schooling by their elders.
Posted by: Canuckistanian   2006-07-10 00:39  

#2  Time to bring out troops home and any special 'trading partner' status with South Korea.

And tell the flat out that they are on their own.

Let them 'trade' with Kimmie. (Pssst. He cheats and steals trains....)
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-07-10 00:37  

#1  Agreed. SoKo has lived under the protective US cocoon for too long. A serious dose of bitch slap is in order.
Posted by: Captain America   2006-07-10 00:12  

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