12/26/2002: Korean peninsula

[tw]

Originally posted by Zorg
He's right in that at least a large part of North Korea's motivation in kicking out IAEA inspectors was to force concessions from the US and South Korea.

The concession demanded was only from the US. S Korea and Japan wanted to continue engagement with N Korea. Korea was demanding a concession only from the US. It is George Jr who ordered all further contact with N Korea be halted - to isolate N Korea. When Colin Powell said "talk without negotiation", those who appreciate the fine details understood that it would have been the US conceding - without appearing so. If George Jr has recinded his order of no further contact, then the US made a concession to N Korea. IF. I have yet to see any indication that talks with N Korea have actually resumed.

The South Koreans did not regard the North actions as a demand for concessions. They regard the startup of a nuclear reactor as a direct response to militant, cowboy diplomacy that contributes to destruction of treaty after treaty - from the Oslo Accords to the Strategic Arms treaty on anti-ballistic missiles to the US - N Korea 1994 agreement. George Jr keeps destroying treaties - and advocating war as a solution. Therefore S Koreans don't fear the North. They fear the American government. Based upon George Jr's history as President, S Koreans do have much reason to fear. Just the fact that he canceled all contacts with N Korea demonstrates how little he understands world diplomacy. No wonder he has diminished US relationships with virtually every nation in the world. Every George Jr solution to a problem is a military one. That most scares S Korea - as polls and the recent S Korean presidental election demonstrate.