How could you blame the Us for provoking N.Korea? How have they provoked them? N.Korea on the other hand constantly fires across the DMZ, fires up S.Korean Navy vessels most of which are transport only with small arms weapons for limited protection.
As for Nukes N.Korea will never use these they are for bargaining power only, this is why they insist the US enter talks with them instead of the 6 party talks they are trying to have right now with the neighboring countries. Those countries have nothing to offer them in the way of economic gifts if you will. If we enter talks they will undoubtedly ask for and insist on a bigger economic aid package which they will squander on more military weaponry and the threat will grow even stronger. The biggest threat they pose is their willingness to sell these secrets to our enemies. So the best recourse is to withhold aid and monies refuse to talk and hope that their neighbors can prevail. Otherwise they continue to starve and sooner or later someone is going to find a rat hole somewhere to plot and plan to overthrow Kim Jung Ill once and for all. But this to will be the fault of the US for refusing to give in to selfish egotistical maniac like Mr. Kim.
As for the comments about backing down, WHAT? You can not be serious, the US should never back down from any government that is building nuclear weapons for the purpose of bargaining power or for selling. That would be the ultimate sign of weakness and even the mere sugestion of it is ridiculous and quite nieve.
Not quite sure if it is off topic. However, it does look like there will be new players in the US vs N Korea issue.
https://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/0...53413.0625.html
It will be very interesting to see how the new leader eventually differentiates himself from his father as Kim Jung Il did from his own father.
Take a read,
Vincenzo
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 863 86.3%
N. KOREA UNLEASHING A BARRAGE OF RHETORIC
North Korea urged its impoverished people Saturday to rally around Stalinist leader Kim Jong Il after Washington rebuffed the communist North's demand that the two sides hold bilateral talks to curb nuclear tensions.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C...11775%2C00.html
North Korea has 'six nuclear weapons'
According to the London Telegraph, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, has declared that North Korea has at least 6 nuclear weapons in its arsenal. According to the article, N. Korea has amassed these weapons to 'defend' themselves from the U.S. I find that statement comical and very ironic!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../09/wnkor09.xml
QUOTE |
Asked by CNN whether it was its assessment that the North Koreans already had as many as six nuclear bombs, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, said: "I think that would be close to our estimation. "We knew they had the plutonium that could be converted into five or six weapons. We know that they have the delivery system." According to US intelligence reports, Pyongyang is believed to have two or more crude nuclear bombs. North Korea declared in February that it had developed nuclear weapons to defend itself from the United States. |
International Level: Envoy / Political Participation: 241 24.1%
I don't think it is such a comical statement as North Korea isn't really threatened by many other nations. The fact is, whether the statement is true or not, the US Administration through its aggresive rhetoric is certainly allowing N Korea to 'feel' threatened.
However it's so hard to know where reality lies with the North Korean regime. I'm sure they want the world to think they are far stronger than what they are.
I feel the US's hard line with the Koreans is the wrong approach and sweeping sanctions similar to Iraq would be a crime against humanity given their starvation problems. This problem has to be solved diplomatically otherwise the consequences will be very grave. China and possibly even Sth Korea need to play a larger role.
International Level: Negotiator / Political Participation: 453 45.3%
NORTH KOREA CALLS CHENEY 'BLOODTHIRSTY BEAST'
North Korea has responded to recent comments by U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney, describing him as a "bloodthirsty beast."
Ref. https://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...orea050602.html
https://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus....R20050608a.html
North Korea Edges Back to Nuclear Talks
I really think that North Korea is doing this little dance about nuclear weapons mostly as a way to extort extra aid from the West, especially the US. Clinton showed them that this was a valid way to deal with us, and they learned the lesson well.
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 854 85.4%
You know what the funny thing about this is... I have never seen a country so bold in its statements, lied so much and yet the US does not react with force. Are they afraid? About a year ago I thought for sure the US would give some tough talk, but instead everything has simmered down? Maybe the US sees that it cannot police everyone that has a nuclear claim.
NORTH KOREA SAYS IT HAS NUCLEAR BOMBS, BUT HOW MANY 'IS A SECRET'
North Korea says it is still building nuclear bombs and has the ability to arm missiles with them.
Ref. https://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...orea050609.html
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 3231 100%