Some Thoughts On the Recents Events in North Korea
The North Korean announcement last week that it officially had nuclear weapons stymied a two-year effort by South Korea, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia to persuade North Korea to dismantle its program in return for economic aid and security guarantees. The regime also said it was indefinitely suspending its participation in the 6-way talks.
North Korea's diplomat to the United Nations in New York was quoted as saying his government is demanding direct talks with the United States to ease tension over its announcement. Essentially, the North wants a non-aggressive pact directly with the U.S. along with the lifting of economic sanctions. In the past, North Korea has also pressed for withdraw of U.S. troops on the East Asian peninsula. In many ways these demands are not new, for the North has always pressed for direct talks with the U.S., who its sees as the dominate force in the region.
In contrast U.S. policy has stressed that the United States and its allies must convince the North Korean leadership that their interests are in a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula because the neighborhood and the rest of the international community will not accept a Korean Peninsula that is nuclearized. U.S. policy is that this agreement is not bi-lateral between the U.S. and North Korea.
So why after years of talks did the North announce it had nuclear weapons and suspend the 6 way talks? One view is that the U.S. has held rigidly to its position with regard to the North and that the nuclear weapons announcement and withdraw from 6-way talks would force the U.S. to rethink and soften its strategy.
In response to the North’s announcement the U.S. however has not flinched, instead many hardliners seek to impose additional economic sanctions on North Korea. It appears that South Korea under pressure from the U.S. is following a similar tactic.
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said yesterday the government would not promote "large-scale" economic cooperation with North Korea until it resolves tensions over the nuclear weapons it claims to possess.
"We will only push for economic cooperation (with the North) on humanitarian grounds," Ban said at a news conference held immediately on his return from a five-day visit to the United States.
Some analysts view this government’s announcement as a change in Seoul's attitude, which was influenced by hard-liners in the U.S. administration. This should come as no surprise since the Korean foreign minister had met with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and congressional leaders in his Washington visit.
I’ll continue to watch the events in the region and provide updates as they unfold. Questions, comments? Please feel free to email me.
North Korea's diplomat to the United Nations in New York was quoted as saying his government is demanding direct talks with the United States to ease tension over its announcement. Essentially, the North wants a non-aggressive pact directly with the U.S. along with the lifting of economic sanctions. In the past, North Korea has also pressed for withdraw of U.S. troops on the East Asian peninsula. In many ways these demands are not new, for the North has always pressed for direct talks with the U.S., who its sees as the dominate force in the region.
In contrast U.S. policy has stressed that the United States and its allies must convince the North Korean leadership that their interests are in a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula because the neighborhood and the rest of the international community will not accept a Korean Peninsula that is nuclearized. U.S. policy is that this agreement is not bi-lateral between the U.S. and North Korea.
So why after years of talks did the North announce it had nuclear weapons and suspend the 6 way talks? One view is that the U.S. has held rigidly to its position with regard to the North and that the nuclear weapons announcement and withdraw from 6-way talks would force the U.S. to rethink and soften its strategy.
In response to the North’s announcement the U.S. however has not flinched, instead many hardliners seek to impose additional economic sanctions on North Korea. It appears that South Korea under pressure from the U.S. is following a similar tactic.
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said yesterday the government would not promote "large-scale" economic cooperation with North Korea until it resolves tensions over the nuclear weapons it claims to possess.
"We will only push for economic cooperation (with the North) on humanitarian grounds," Ban said at a news conference held immediately on his return from a five-day visit to the United States.
Some analysts view this government’s announcement as a change in Seoul's attitude, which was influenced by hard-liners in the U.S. administration. This should come as no surprise since the Korean foreign minister had met with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and congressional leaders in his Washington visit.
I’ll continue to watch the events in the region and provide updates as they unfold. Questions, comments? Please feel free to email me.
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