New York Times: With Nuclear Test, North Korea’s Leader Asserts Role of Instigator
SEOUL, South Korea — The young leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has often been dismissed as inexperienced, erratic and even clueless. But with the North’s test of a nuclear bomb this week, Mr. Kim appears to have mastered a strategy that has served his reclusive country well: playing one big power against another.
The nuclear test quickly increased tensions between the United States and China. In a strong rebuke on Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry called China’s approach to North Korea a failure, saying that something had to change in its handling of the isolated country it has supported for six decades. On Friday, China suggested that it was the Americans, not the Chinese, who were largely to blame for the North’s nuclear program.
The United States also used the North’s test to tighten a trilateral alliance with Japan and South Korea in the region, a relationship that China has long viewed as a check on its power.
WNU Editor: The China that I know does not like to be told what to do .... and they sure as hell hate being manipulated. Bottom line .... North Korea's nuclear test made China realize .... again .... that this country will go to extremes to not only try to get what they want from the West .... but to also get what they want from China.
Update #1: I have already heard about these feelers from North Korea from my Chinese readers .... North Korea seeks China help on treaty with U.S., or more tests - source (Reuters) .... the Chinese are not happy with this "threat"
Update #2: I mentioned earlier that the U.S. remarks that China's policy vis-a-vis North Korea was a mistake .... U.S. Blames China For Failing To Rein In North Korea. It is because it gives China the excuse to blast back at the U.S. while not focusing on North Korea .... where the focus should be.
Update #3: This is not the reason why North Korea decided to have an atomic test .... Is North Korean girl band connected to nuclear test? (CNN)
1 comment:
I'm HIGHLY skeptical that China really wants to do anything to curtail North Korea's nuclear program. They are not the ones being threatened by this. The ones being threatened are America and its "allies." Since China, at best, views America as a strategic competitor and at worst an enemy, there is no reason to think we are going to get any assistance on this from them. The same general rule applies to Russia as well. In other words, it seems very unlikely the major powers are going to help us here.
Nevertheless, as you linked to, and if I'm understanding correctly both China and Russia are on record condemning this action by North Korea. When they refuse to do anything substantial here, assuming we can get media cooperation this can be played back at them in their faces.
Why would they go on record condemning what they likely clearly support? If this is poker, these powers have a fabulous hand in contrast to America and its "allies." Perhaps they've overplayed their hand. Given this situation, perhaps there is some deal making that can be made here. In exchange for Russian and Chinese help on North Korea, perhaps the US can support Russian and Chinese positions in areas that may matter to them.
I have my own ideas on what these might be. Perhaps support Russia's position in Eastern Europe and Ukraine and Easter Europe and China's position in the South China Sea. After all they are on record opposes the actions of NK. Perhaps now is the best time to make a deal and solve the NK problem and forge better relations with the world's top powers.
A bit off topic but NK has often been referred to as "isolated", "the hermit kingdom" etc. Very respectfully this seems inaccurate. NK counts as friends China, Russia, Iran just to name a few who support them. In contrast, America has nothing like this in its corner. Just whose isolated? If would seem to me that this would be America. As for sanctions, these will not work as they cannot be enforce as others would simply ignore them or worse and they only undermine the US dollar's role as world reserve currency making an orderly transition away from this less likely.
Lastly, should war break out, it is about 99.999% probable that America and its "allies" would not be able to win a war against NK and its allies. If your analysis of the NK leader a few days ago is accurate, he wants to stay in power. As such, the focus should be on making him and his allies know that while they would win the war it would be so costly to them that they would not think of doing such a thing. Making things to costly for the enemy should be America's focus as well as the focus of its "allies."
Post a Comment