North Korea – Another Slap On The Wrist?
May 26th, 2009 by thatsElbert
On Memorial Day we remember those that served our country. On Memorial Day 2009, we are reminded that the world isn’t all that safe, as North Korea test fires a nuclear weapon underground. Tuesday morning we awaken to news that North Korea has test fired more missiles. So, what will the US response be? In this story, it states that the US, along with Japan, will push for “strong action” against North Korea. What constitutes “strong action” in the eyes of this administration? Does that mean that Kim Jong Il gets a slap on the wrist (sanctions) AND a personal phone call from Barack Obama himself?
“Now Kim, you’ve been bad. You’ve not been playing nice with all those big guns you’ve got over there. Why don’t you put those things away, and the UN won’t bother you anymore. You don’t want to get another phone call from me, do you?”
One has to wonder how much Scranton Joe knew when he spoke last fall:
“Watch. We’re going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. And he’s going to need help . . . to stand with him. Because it’s not going to be apparent initially; it’s not going to be apparent that we’re right.”
Hopefully this administration responds better than a typical UN slap on the wrist.
We can hope and pray.
The President seems puzzled. That may be an act to catch the DRK by surprise.
Short of a preemptive attack on North Korea’s nuclear facilities, there is little else that can be done effectively.
I do not favor more sanctions, because they would negatively impact the already poverty stricken general population of North Korea who apparently have no power to displace their corrupt leadership. Sanctions do not impact leaders of this kind, only the populace gets hurt. The usual hope is that sanctions will spur an internal uprising. This did not happen in Iraq, in Sudan, in Cuba, and it has not happened so far in North Korea.
I like the idea of a very limited preemptive strike on their nuclear facilities, as long as it has the backing of the UN Security Council and the major nations in the region, in other words, a united effort, not just a Bush-type coalition in name only but not in reality.
Even the threat of such an action may bring North Korea’s leaders to attention and to their knees — that would be the best outcome, in my view.
I agree w/Perry — sanctions won’t do squat against NK. The leaders could care less.
But, good luck getting the UN to agree on a pre-emptive strike!!
2Perry
“Short of a preemptive attack on North Korea’s nuclear facilities, there is little else that can be done effectively.”
The solution is China and because Bush was in $$$$ bed with Communist China the “world’s” hands are tied. George Bush proclaimed North Korea one of the Axis of Evil and did nothing but bend over for China. China needs to take out the North Koreans nuclear facilities and missile sites. Obama is stuck with another Bush blunder!
Years ago we refereed to China as Communist China but Bush toned that down to China as if they is our partners.
Wasn’t George Bush senior once Ambassador to China?
Obama is stuck with another Bush blunder!
Oh please. Get a freakin’ clue, Kilroy. Like, look at the previous 8 years before that, will’ya?
The truth is N. Korea is a difficult proposition because China is protecting it. I can’t really blame any President of the United States, I blame the President of China for the mess that is DRK.
david anderson
“The truth is N. Korea is a difficult proposition because China is protecting it. I can’t really blame any President of the United States,”
I can agree to this!
China fears any military actions by west could send North Koreans over the board and they China will have an unwanted refugee problem on their hands. But I find it odd that every time there are major incidents the solution is more food aid from the west but yet China a wealthy landlord of the United States has the resources to fill those needs or could buy them.
China is the only country that could put and end to this and they need to tell North Korean to stand down or else China cuts ties.
Like,Hube
” look at the previous 8 years before that, will’ya?”
I think we can look further back than that. But I like David Anderson’s response.
I agree with Kilroy, China is the key to solving the North Korea problem, in which Obama can play a major role.
I do think Bush overcame his “axis of evil” mistake with NK by his team successfully negotiating with them, getting them to stop uranium enrichment — a great achievement!
This could well be their test of new President Obama’s resolve and global influence. I note that Obama’s rhetoric has been very strong, loud and clear. Let us see if he can back this up with results!
In this sense NK has presented Obama with a great opportunity to succeed, or fail! It’s a game they play, a gamble they take, with possible consequences.
Perry
“This could well be their test of new President Obama’s resolve and global influence.”
It seems major world events are testing American presidents but when do we really test the resolve of the United Nation? In Bush’s defense if the United Nations stepped up when Iraq kept violating the UN sanctions and played cat and mouse games with the weapons inspectors perhaps George wouldn’t have made such an independent move.
Lack of action will encourage Iran to expand their programs and soon our friend in Venezuela will start a nuclear program.
But then again a little touch of nuclear winter might reverse global warming!
Kilroy: “But then again a little touch of nuclear winter might reverse global warming!”
Love it!
Bush blunder? I thought it was because Truman was too much of a pantywaist to bomb those rice eaters back to the Great Wall of China.
China needs to take out the North Koreans nuclear facilities and missile sites.
Yes, but peacefully, my friend. North Korea is a trickier proposition than you might think.
NK has its own effective deterrent even without nuclear weapons. NK has over 13,000 large artillery pieces aimed at South Korea on a hair trigger, most of which could hit Seoul. Many of them are in hardened sites. NK also has SCUD missiles which can reach deeper into SK.
In the event of an action by the US or other outside force, Seoul would be reduced to rubble within the first hour or two.
NK has declared that a major civil defense effort (ie, evacuation of Seoul or border areas) would be considered an act of war and would trigger a strike.
noman
“Yes, but peacefully, my friend. North Korea is a trickier proposition than you might think.”
The peace appears to be wearing thin.
From Dave’s post
“Does that mean that Kim Jong Il gets a slap on the wrist (sanctions) AND a personal phone call from Barack Obama himself?”
Sounds like war talk to me. If sanctions are a slap on the wrist then what would be the appropriate response?
david anderson
“I can’t really blame any President of the United States, I blame the President of China for the mess that is DRK.”
This I agree with and it’s really a combination of polices since the end of the Korean War that failed.
G Rex
“I thought it was because Truman was too much of a pantywaist to bomb those rice eaters back to the Great Wall of China.”
I guess Truman should have let MacArthur do his job.
At the end of the day it’s up to China to broker a deal and of course more aid to North Korean at time North Carolina needs aid. I guess Kim Jong is having a baby-fit because North Korea didn’t receive any of Obama’s stimulus money.
Kilroy writes, “Sounds like war talk to me. If sanctions are a slap on the wrist then what would be the appropriate response? ”
I’m not sure what the next step should be. If sanctions aren’t working and Kim Jong “Menta Lee” Il doesn’t want to talk anymore, then some other steps need to be taken. Some show of force might be needed. You don’t want it to come to that, but you have to face reality and realize that it could.
thatselbert
“Some show of force might be needed. You don’t want it to come to that, but you have to face reality and realize that it could.”
I know Japan is losing its patience and perhaps the response to next missile firied should be shot it down. Once the missile leaves Korean landmass, blow it out of the sky. This shit with North Korea and Iran holding the world hostage has to end. The United Nations needs to call the shots to blow the missile up. Its time for them to grow real balls.
David may be right re: stop blaming. I agree and lets (UN) take some action
I can’t give a solution to this because I am not sure one exists without China or a willingness to pressure China who could then call trillions in our debt and make us say, “sorry, our mistake”. I would offer some steps that would be positive.
First, join with the six parties and develop a hardened non proliferation strategy. Second, tell DRK to back off or we will ramp up our missile defense regime for both ourselves and our allies. Third, tell China (PRC) and North Korea (DRK) that we will support what ever decision Japan makes on if it needs its own nuclear umbrella. (That is one of China’s nightmare’s, but one which will not implicate us directly.) Fourth, no aid and no trade until it comes back to the table. Fifth, the U. S. should monitor weapons flows from the country and press for a UN resolution allowing random inspections to monitor compliance to existing treaties and resolutions.
Not a solution, but sometimes a band aid gives you time to find one before you bleed out.
A NK missile will eventually land on Chinese soil; and that will be that.