| Submit your comments on this article |
| Korea |
| Some nobody says what everybody already knows about NKor |
| 2003-04-25 |
| SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea (search)'s reported claim that it has nuclear weapons could backfire on the Stalinist state by alienating China, a Korean War-era ally that is a major provider of food and fuel, some analysts say. Wow. Newsflash. "They have a choice between joining the international community and getting development aid, and becoming a garrison state with nuclear weapons," said Timothy Savage, a Northeast Asia security analyst in Seoul (search). "Unfortunately, they seem to have chosen the latter." I guess lawn clippings isn't a "Brain Food" The most benign interpretation of North Korea's statement is that it is staking out a tough bargaining position as a prelude to more talks. But if North Korea has no intention of dismantling its nuclear facilities, Washington might eventually push for economic sanctions in the U.N. Security Council. The North, which wants a nonaggression treaty with the United States, has said sanctions would constitute a "declaration of war." Actually, in the sane world, it's more like a "declaration of sanctions" Methinks Kimmie slept to close to the furnace when he was young. The claim could be a tactic to extract concessions, but U.S. officials say intimidation won't work. President Bush told NBC anchor Tom Brokaw: "See, they're back to the old blackmail game." Even Bush can figure that out. Why can't Carter, and all his Comrades figure it out? True or not, the statements seem to reflect North Korean thinking that Washington, fresh from a successful campaign in Iraq, would balk at invading a nuclear-armed nation. U.S. officials say they want a peaceful solution to the nuclear problem, but have not ruled out a military option. One analyst said North Korea may have miscalculated because its belligerence will encourage China and Russia to fall in line with the United States in pushing hard for an end to the North's nuclear ambitions. Don't count on the ChiComs, and Russia being much help. sure would be a nice though. "North Korea fell right into a trap and did what the (U.S.) administration expected it to do," said L. Gordon Flake of the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs, a Washington-based public policy group. This could have been an attempt at a trap. Whether or not it was, it worked. Flake said North Korea's claim would strengthen the hand of any U.S. officials who believe the North has no intention of giving up the nuclear card, and that a change of government in Pyongyang is the only way to resolve the crisis. |
| Posted by:Mike N. |
| #5 I like Liberalhawks idea of a nu-ku-ler armed Tiawan, and I think that is a very good second or third step. First and foremost, should be a proven reliable theatre missile defense to protect S.K., Tiawan, and Japan. That would help nullify the threat (bargaining chip)of China, and Nkor nukes. Then, we can put a little more muscle on China. And what the hell do they care about a few million refugees for. That's like pouring a bucket of water into the Ocean. You'll never know the difference. They way I figure it, they're supporting many that would become refugees right now anyway. If they let them in, they can hype the PR about "Helping Millions", and get the Human Rights monkey off their backs. For a while, anyway. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-04-25 15:30:57 |
| #4 Memo to China: You dont want NKORS to have bombs, but are afraid dissolution of NKOR will lead to millions of refugees, and united pro-US Korea. If you decide that nuclear armed NKOR is acceptable, we will have to determine whether a nuclear armed SKOR or Japan is acceptable. Hell, why not a nuclear armed Taiwan???? Think about. Get back to us when you've had a chance to reconsider. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-25 14:55:07 |
| #3 Take heart, Mike N. I do have faith that GW is not gonna sell us down the river like Bubba did. I do not think that we are going to let this crisis fester. I am sure that we will or are be dealing with China, without alot of press...yet. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-25 14:50:36 |
| #2 AP. Good point. We(American cunsumers)buy many products that are made in China, and therefore can make the PRC wallet draw a large vacuum that would force them to cut their support for the Dear Leader. The problem with this little plan of mine of course, is that it will never work. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-04-25 13:47:22 |
| #1 Well, all this anal-ysis is well and good, but the fact remains that NK leadership are nutcases and are capable of doing something very stupid and very dangerous at any time. Only China can rein them in by cutting off their resources. So all we can do is to contain them and deny them any assistance, we meaning US, Japan, SK. So like it or not, it is up to China, and any leverage we have against China will be the thing to use to deal with NK. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-25 13:33:05 |