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U.S. prepared to use force against N Korea: U.N. envoy

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By Michelle Nichols

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Hard to expect China to put the hammer down on NK when they are the ones who are going to have to deal with the flood of refugees that will flood over their border if any military action occurs.

It's in China's best interests to stop NK, but is China going to allow the US to take any military action without responding? Not to mention the millions of Koreans in Seoul who really are in harms way.

Stopping Kim is important of course, but at what price?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Can you please chill out with the atomic war escalation USA? Don't encourage the mad man in Pyongyang. I would like not to die of nuclear fallout today.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

It is a real conundrum. From Truman on down subsequent administrations kicked the can down the road, allowing it to fester. Now it is left in the hands of an administration that doesn't know what to do.

Kim launches an ICBM, Donald launches a tweet. In Donald's mind, game-set-match.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

"I think we've been pretty consistent that we're never going to broadcast any next steps

To be able to broadcast a next step, one has to actually have a thought-out next step to broadcast. We know from Trump's non-existent detailed replacement for the ACA and plans to make Mexico pay for a wall that he flies by the seat of his pants. Sad.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

This is where you see China playing well her influence.

What would Trump concede to have China act? It rests at that.

Threatening NK with force looks tough with voters but is exactly playing Kim's rhetoric why they need the atomic bomb and the means of delivery.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

From Truman on down

I'd go back before Truman and look at colonialism. The Japanese invasions of Korea and China pretty much set up the messes that were to ensue. They were followed by the US (with help from their allies) and Russia dividing up the peninsula at the end of WW2. And of course European nations post WW1 set the stage.

Most global problems today stem from colonialism.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Unhinged, war-mongering nonsense from the US, plain common sense and a practical approach from the Russians and Chinese. It really is the world turned upside down.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

People keep talking about how China should do more to stop N. Korea. But I'm still unclear on why? What is their motivation? Why is the US's problem their problem?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Ahh that good old bravado ei?

This isnt iraq or tiny yemen. Resorting to violence is a 100% sure way of wreaking life in the peninsula. No way in Hades will plan China or Russia sit back and let that happen.

You're playing it the big dogs now merica.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

People keep talking about how China should do more to stop N. Korea. But I'm still unclear on why? 

Because they are the ones crying bloody murder, how dare you build missile defenses in the area? If they don't want said defenses so close to their borders, they should get into the game an do more than just talking.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Because they are the ones crying bloody murder, how dare you build missile defenses in the area? 

Are they? Where?

But assuming you're right, that's their right to complain about actions in their area. And they aren't the ones who have a problem with N. Korea, the US is. So you still haven't answered the question.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

There is no way to deal with North Korea effectively and without violence. China, despite its aid to North Korea during the Korean War, has been detested by Koreans for nearly 5000 years. No outside country really has any sway in what North Korea does and does not do. First strike options are poor at best. The target set is largely unknown. There will be however, only one chance to take out those targets before North Korea launches a barrage attack using nuclear weapons against its neighbors. South Korea, long the object of North Korea's military passion, is no longer their target and is unlikely to be hit with nuclear weapons. Instead, it will be Vladivostok, Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Manila, Taipei, and possibly Hanoi.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why is the US's problem their problem?

Even a conventional war and the Kim regime collapse, probably resulting in a unification of Korea, it is more than the US's problem if it happens on their border.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The chance of the US being able to use any kind of military force without precipitating huge response from NK is nil.

also never really understand the "China wants to avoid huge flood of refuges" if things go bad.  china will easily be able to close her borders.  and in my view most NK refuges will want to flee sounth to SK.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Even a conventional war and the Kim regime collapse, probably resulting in a unification of Korea, it is more than the US's problem if it happens on their border.

So the US stance is: We're going to cause problems for you, and if you don't want those problems, it's your problem.

Typical US behavior.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

This isnt iraq or tiny yemen. Resorting to violence is a 100% sure way of wreaking life in the peninsula. No way in Hades will plan China or Russia sit back and let that happen.

You're playing it the big dogs now merica.

Big dogs? That depends on what your definition of "big" is. If you are talking about the size and scope of their military, then they are the big dog...somewhat, but it doesn't mean anything if you haven't used your military in a long time and that's where the US has the advantage and the Russians and Chinese know this, they know getting into a fight with the US wouldn't be a quick win of any sort.

Having said that, there are No real options to solve this, if the US makes a preemptive strike, the NK will shell the South and they could level the city within hours and the causality rate would be enormous. On the other hand, you can't let the North continue with this nonsense either, the repercussions are growing and the patience from the South, Japan and the US is wearing thin. China is not going to do anything, not really. They don't like a destabilized out of control NK, but having a unified Korea is out of the question for them. Their interests are very different from ours and that leaves us with trying to convince the Japanese to go Nuclear and realistically speaking, that's not going to happen, but if it did, that most definitely would get the attention of the Chinese and NK and for the Chinese that's the worst possible scenario, then you would without a doubt get their attention.

So this is a very messy situation and you don't really have a lot of options. But as unpredictable as Kim is, he's not going to stop until they can have ICBM that can reach the Western part of the US and from what we have seen, they are closer to that goal than previously thought. This is a dilemma that needs to be be seriously and deeply thought out.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

and the United States was prepared to defend itself and its allies.

Fine, most countries would do the same. Thing is some us administrations (Bush senior, this one perhaps) seem to have a very liberal (liberal - loose) interpretation of 'defending oneself'. Their definition & interpretation is actually pretty close to what the rest of the world calls 'aggression'.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So the US stance is: We're going to cause problems for you, and if you don't want those problems, it's your problem.

__

The Koreans are going to use the technology at their disposal regardless of the administration in Washington. If any former president had a brighter idea of how to go about permanently solving this, besides sanctions and negotiations, it would have been handled long ago.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The Koreans are going to use the technology at their disposal regardless of the administration in Washington. If any former president had a brighter idea of how to go about permanently solving this, besides sanctions and negotiations, it would have been handled long ago.

This still doesn't answer the question as to why China should be doing the US bidding on this matter, when the problem is not their problem.

And what's wrong with sanctions and negotiations?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

This still doesn't answer the question as to why China should be doing the US bidding on this matter, when the problem is not their problem.

To avoid a nuclear war on their border, maybe ? Or at the very least the loss of an ally and replacement of an unfriendly regime.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

She urged China, North Korea's only major ally, to do more to rein in Pyongyang.

China will do nothing.

China's trade with NK increased 40% when they were supposed to be helping the situation.

The next diplomatic move should be the US sanctioning China. Economically, it is the same scenario China is afraid of with a war. A flood of refugees creating economic chaos in local areas because of a war, or sanctions creating economic chaos for those in power.

A least sanctions would be a diplomatic alternative to a military alternative, and sanctions against NK alone isn't working with China supporting NK.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

bass4funkToday  10:15 am JST

But as unpredictable as Kim is

The Kims are not and have never been unpredictable. They're predictable like clockwork.

The one who is unpredictable is Trump. He's the one going around undermining long-standing alliances like NATO and US diplomatic principles like "One China" just to get a better deal out of it. And that unpredictability is his greatest weakness here.

It is only in China's interest to keep the Korean peninsula stable. War there would be the worst thing for everyone involved, but for China it would be a national economic disaster in addition to being a military threat on their doorstep.

And China has a long history of using its leverage to maintain the status quo - DPRK acts out every once in a while, but never in a manner that actually pushes things off balance. But because Trump has proven time and again in his short presidency that he's an unreliable partner, China has less incentive to spend its own political capital to keep the status quo. It may be that they decide there is a cut-off point where Trump's unreliability suggests an open conflict on the peninsula is more sustainable in the long run than trying to work with the unpredictable American regime.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

To avoid a nuclear war on their border, maybe ? Or at the very least the loss of an ally and replacement of an unfriendly regime.

Again, problems caused by the US. So the US has no right to say China should be doing anything. The US simply needs to not start a nuclear war, or indulge in regime change (haven't they learned their lesson?).

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Or at the very least the loss of an ally and replacement of an unfriendly regime.

That would be the best option for SK, Japan and the US, but probably the least realistic option.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Sanction China, put a huge tariff on Chinese imports into the US. Kill two birds with one stone.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

This is a dilemma that needs to be be seriously and deeply thought out.

Yes. Time for a trash tweet at 3am on this issue.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The Kims are not and have never been unpredictable. They're predictable like clockwork.

No, the North Koreans for the most part have been very unpredictable, that's why everyone is shocked they they were able to successfully launch their first ICBM. A huge game changer.

The one who is unpredictable is Trump. He's the one going around undermining long-standing alliances like NATO and US diplomatic principles like "One China" just to get a better deal out of it. And that unpredictability is his greatest weakness here.

Thats great, the unlike the last president that would let the world know what's going to happen next, here with this president we don't know and that's good. Keep them on their toes, they can play their game and we play ours.

It is only in China's interest to keep the Korean peninsula stable. War there would be the worst thing for everyone involved, but for China it would be a national economic disaster in addition to being a military threat on their doorstep. 

Ok. So you're saying let the NK do what they want, intimidate the Japanese and us when every want, however they want, gotcha. Those pacifist days are over, thank God! China is not going to do anything, so if they won't reel in their lapdog then the US might have to take drastic measures, including slapping China with sanctions and trying to convince The Japanese to go Nuclear. Either way, this is fast going to come to a crashing conclusion.

And China has a long history of using its leverage to maintain the status quo - DPRK acts out every once in a while, but never in a manner that actually pushes things off balance.

Not happening now! Remember, you got a millennial in power now, changes the entire dynamic, also, Kim is under a lot of pressure from within and is worried about his own survival.

But because Trump has proven time and again in his short presidency that he's an unreliable partner,

Reliable, but unpredictable, which is not a bad trait to have at all.

China has less incentive to spend its own political capital to keep the status quo. It may be that they decide there is a cut-off point where Trump's unreliability suggests an open conflict on the peninsula is more sustainable in the long run than trying to work with the unpredictable American regime.

Well, we shall see how serious China is. If they really are concerned with maintaining the status quo or if they are just trying extend NK lease a little, it all remains to be seen.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

here with this president we don't know and that's good. Keep them on their toes, they can play their game and we play ours.

Not my president. And this is not a game. Therein lies the whole problem with the childish tyrants in Pyongyang and Washington.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Therein lies the problem. The This not my president nonsense combined with trying to tell me with a straight face that Trump and Kim are equally nefarious and tyrannical.

This isn't a US problem it's a world problem. So the world needs to get started helpIng instead of just standing back and watching.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Not my president. And this is not a game. Therein lies the whole problem with the childish tyrants in Pyongyang and Washington.

Trump had his eyes opened by Xi who gave him a paper and crayons lesson on the North Korea situation.

Ignorance, an inability to digest detail and a petty, petulant character are the last thing the world needs in this situation. Perhaps giving Trump time to play golf or tweet trash while serious, sober minds in the US consider this issue would be best. Trump is not really teachable, and at his age it's very optimistic to think he could be.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Therein lies the problem. The This not my president nonsense combined with trying to tell me with a straight face that Trump and Kim are equally nefarious and tyrannical.

Trump is not my President. And as much as I admired Obama; neither was he. Not everyone who takes an interest in the US is American.

And yes, both Kim and Trump are narcissistic bullies who have issues with criticism and an unhealthy dose of paranoia. Both demand loyalty. And hopefuly; one day, both will answer to a risen people and justice will prevail.

This isn't a US problem it's a world problem. So the world needs to get started helpIng instead of just standing back and watching.

Make your mind up. It's either an American thing or it isn't. And I have to say; for once; Russia and China have the right response.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sanction China, put a huge tariff on Chinese imports into the US. Kill two birds with one stone.

Punish China for problems between N. Korea and America. Seems legit.

This isn't a US problem it's a world problem.

Saber rattling is only a problem if your ego is so weak that it cannot handle it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

And I have to say; for once; Russia and China have the right response.

As much as I regard Putin as a thug and Xi is the head of the CCP bullyboys, we are talking about very bright and shrewd men. I posted about the paper and crayons lesson from Xi but that has probably faded from Trump's memory as he has much more important issues like posting trash wrestling tweets on his mind.

No leader can be an authority on all issues but having Trump in the room while discussing basically any issue is a waste of oxygen.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

bass4funkToday  11:39 am JST

No, the North Koreans for the most part have been very unpredictable, that's why everyone is shocked they they were able to successfully launch their first ICBM.

Only rubes and partisan pundits are shocked. It's not a big surprise that a country that has been testing technology for years might have finally succeeded at it. A person would have to be blinded by irrational hatred to imagine it would go any differently.

The fact is, DPRK has been following the exact same playbook ever since Bush the younger launched his idiotic "Axis of Evil" rhetoric and gave them the excuse to kick out UN nuclear weapon observers. Their behavior has been remarkably consistent ever since - commit small provocations that won't lead to a war but will get attention from the international community as negotiating leverage. A person would have to have not actually read a single news story about North Korea in over a decade to imagine they are "unpredictable".

u're saying let the NK do what they want,

I never said anything of the sort. In fact, In my post I never once even speculated how this crisis should be handled. If you won't show the basic decency of reading the words I actually wrote, kindly don't bother replying and wasting both of our time.

But because Trump has proven time and again in his short presidency that he's an unreliable partner,

Reliable, but unpredictable

A reliable partner does not threaten to withdraw support for allies until they cough up more money. Trump is the opposite of reliable.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't blame NK for continuing to launch nuclear missiles and strengthening their military. If your neighbouring countries are heavily protected by a country that has a history of invading other countries and bombing the hell out of its people and infrastructure, it would be in your best interest to heavily arm yourself in case the country in question decides to fabricate a story in order to justify showering you with FREEDOM.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Not my president. And this is not a game. Therein lies the whole problem with the childish tyrants in Pyongyang and Washington.

Then I guess you aren't American right?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A reliable partner does not threaten to withdraw support for allies until they cough up more money. 

So at what point do you stop going out drinking with an other wise good bloke who continues to expect you to pay his bar tab every single time? Or who tries to pay 1000 yen for 10,000 yen of drinking? Wouldnt that get old at some point and wouldnt you say pay your share at some point? No matter how reliable you are and no matter your ability to pay it, Im sure at some point enough would be enough.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Punish China for problems between N. Korea and America. Seems legit.

I dont see this as a problem between N Korea and USA. I see it as USA being expected to protect Japan and South Korea as part of our long standing alliance. This is really a Japan/S Korea vs N Korea problem at its core. N Korea knows Japan and South Korea wont do anything, so they keep rattling the saber at the USA to get reaction.

No different than the Syria gassing issue was not between USA and Syria. USA acts on behalf of its allies and sometimes on behalf of the whole world. USA is expected to act for human rights, genocide, nuclear/chemical threats, terrorism when weaker countries cant or wont.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

China may have changed economically, but it's debatable whether it's changed all that much ideolocially. Personally, I thought the world should have been more critical and much tougher on China after the Tianaman Square Massacre, but nobody did much of anything. Basically, the Russians want the same thing. They want to reap the benefits of a free world economy without paying the admission price. China invaded Tibet and now it's snatching islands away from its smaller neighbors . . . no problem. Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea . . . as far as Putin sees it What's the problem? Why are they able to get away with it when they're not interested in changing their ideological ways?

Anyway, China really needs to step up to the plate and contribute as a major global player and start paying its admission price. As it stands, China is actually helping North Korea in becoming more dangerous than it ever was before.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thats great, the unlike the last president that would let the world know what's going to happen next, here with this president we don't know and that's good. Keep them on their toes, they can play their game and we play ours.

No, Trump Crazy doesn't balance out Kim Crazy. If it did, NK would have been too scared to fire off an ICBM, because we all know how tough Trump is.

Crazy vs. Crazy just results in two wild and crazy guys, with nukes.

Its not like Trump has a plan.

Who knows, maybe he will tweet in the next day or so about his awesome plans to fix things in the next 100 days with something terrific. A tweet will save us.

No matter how reliable you are and no matter your ability to pay it, Im sure at some point enough would be enough.

There is a difference between drinks and defense against Russia. The US pays now or later, so it is better to pay now. Plus, America likes to keep its war machine up to speed and the American war industry well funded.

Sure, America should require NATO allies to pay their share, and there were changes before Trump was president for them to do so. Trump is alienating allies for no reason. Of course, he is new to the job and doesn't know what he is doing, and the truth gets in the way of his nationalistic narrative.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

China and Russia have turned out to be hostile enemies and can no longer be trusted to help out on the NK question. It is looking inevitable that military action is the only option left, particularly seeing as NK has explicitly stated that their nukes are non-negotiable

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Pretty scary times. Especially with a screaming ignoramus in the Whitehouse.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A lot of you (I assume) younger people think this is a nothing issue and the problem is with Trump.

BOTH Democrats and Republicans understand the severity of the problem.

Obama failed to solve the problem. I can't blame him too much because nobody has been able to solve the problem.

Saying North Korea needs nukes because of the US is ridiculous. The US isn't invading North Korea.

Everyone knows this is an incredibly dangerous situation and that Kim is an evil thug. Even more than his father. And more dangerous.

North Korea thinks nothing of killing both its own people and Koreans. And kidnapping others.

I see nothing wrong at this point with Trump talking directly with Kim. Yes, I know - nobody has done that.

But nobody has solved the problem. Sanctions and indirect talks haven't achieved anything.

Short of military strikes which America is reluctant to do for obvious reasons, another possible BIG step, is to let Japan go nuclear and change it's constitution.

That might just get China to really work on North Korea. One thing neither China or North Korea wants is a nuclear armed Japan.

But, why not? China and North Korea have nukes? Why not Japan?

All the liberals here seem to think there is no problem with North Korea having nukes.

I'd rather Japan have them than North Korea.

Then will you all tell China to mind its own business the way you tell Trump to? I doubt it.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Translated to English, this article says goodbye NK/SK, goodbye Japan and China, your next.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Not my president.

Yeah, if you're not American, if you are, then he is your president, of course emotionally, I get it, but as an American, he is your president.

And this is not a game. Therein lies the whole problem with the childish tyrants in Pyongyang and Washington.

Rhetoric goes with the territory.

Only rubes and partisan pundits are shocked. It's not a big surprise that a country that has been testing technology for years might have finally succeeded at it.

Who knew this? Even the experts didn't see this coming as fast as it depend.

A person would have to be blinded by irrational hatred to imagine it would go any differently.

Please tell that to Mr. Kim.

The fact is, DPRK has been following the exact same playbook ever since Bush the younger launched his idiotic "Axis of Evil" rhetoric and gave them the excuse to kick out UN nuclear weapon observers.

But at least he was a tough president. I mean, just look at the North, he was right.

Their behavior has been remarkably consistent ever since - commit small provocations that won't lead to a war but will get attention from the international community as negotiating leverage.

That's not true, as crazy as this kids father was, he wasn't stupid or on a suicide mission.

A person would have to have not actually read a single news story about North Korea in over a decade to imagine they are "unpredictable".

Well, I guess the left and you might know more than the CIA or NSA, good to know.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Sanction China, put a huge tariff on Chinese imports into the US. Kill two birds with one stone.

And watch the US economy plunge into a free fall taking down the rest of the world's economies. The "west" cannot sustain its economies without China's participation.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No, the North Koreans for the most part have been very unpredictable, that's why everyone is shocked they they were able to successfully launch their first ICBM

Incorrect. "Everyone" was shocked because "everyone" continued to believe the experts when the experts said the DPRK was "years away" from a successful ICBM. Just like the experts said the DPRK was "years away" from an atomic device.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Big Mistake to take any direct action.

All Kim wants is to have Trump meet and talk to him.

US may not lose face for that.

But on the surface even if not factually true, N Korea can declare vicotry and satisfy its need to be recognized not as a pawn to be used and manipulated by China, Russia and the USA, but a legitimate nation that can contribute to the world community. The advancement in technology is only to show that it can as a renegade just to get the attention it needs, if not, the recognition as a world power.

It is not a loss of face to have Trump talk directly with Kim. It will be a loss of face for China and indirectly S Korea and Russia. It will be a victory for N Korea and Kim in principle but not in actual physical military sense. But then that is all N Korea really needs to join the world community as a nation and not as a inconsequential subservient and meaningless people of a divided nation. Something which the USA created as with Taiwan, for its convenience in the name of human rights and different political ideology but in reality for containing China and Russia within Asia.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The agreement with North Korea during the Clinton years was working. NK had no nuclear program and all facilities were inspected continually.

Bush and the neocons (Cheney and Bolten) scrapped the deal and forced onerous restrictions on NK by seizing assets and freezing NK out of all international banking.

NK was complying with every part of the deal, but the neocons threw them in with the "Axis of Evil" nonsense.

NK saw what happened under Bush to the Middle East and also in Syria and Libya. Khadaffy had abandoned terrorism as a tool and had reversed course to improve the economy of Libya. He was murdered basically by Hillary Clinton.

The only country with WMD in the Middle East is Israel. Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan -- none had or have WMD.

North Korea sees that that not having military power gets you nothing against the current neocons. NK is just an easier target to invade, like all the countries that have been invaded by the US and it's proxies.

And that is why they think they need WMD as a deterrent. If NK was defenseless, they would still be invaded.

Even changing and embracing a different way didn't save Libya from being destroyed by the US.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

North Korea, the Kim's, are neither unpredictable, nor irrational. The regime is however, ruthless, dangerous and will do everything to survive. There is no military option that doesn't result in tens or hundreds of thousands of casualties Korean, Japanese and American. Too late to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. Isn't, shouldn't be an American problem.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

One of the most intelligent things I've heard from the talking heads on CNN, is that if NK really wanted to attack the US mainland, all they'd need is something like the old SNL Yard-apult (I added that, not the CNN guy) fastened to the deck of a ship and voila. They could just lob the nukes right into California if that was the choice. To think that the US is only now in danger is ridiculous. They've been in danger for years but had no idea. Go figure.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Trump demands China to calm down N Korea.  So he increase his insulting of China.  This is routine in USA.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They've been in danger for years but had no idea. Go figure.

North Korea does have the subs now to launch from underwater but it is very unlikely the US is going to allow them to deploy. And even if they did without getting blown out of the water there wouldn't have been a second strike capability before the ICBM.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Forget past agreements and all that mambo jumbo which was designed and used to please the world and not necessarily enforceable. Every nation as with the USA and even N Korea has that inherent right to self government and determine its future.Every world leader including every US President has turned his back on international agreements not favorable or agreeable to his own country.

UN as with the Catholic Church, the Muslims and even the EU and who knows what other groups there may be are steps toward the concept of "globalism" where a single controlling entity can dictate what is good for ALL nations however different. What is needed and what works is "internationalism". As that word "inter-" refers to nations working together cooperatively where their differences are respected and with the concept of sharing, cooperation, give and take, win-win, etc..

The concept is not "equal-ism" but "fairness" with "respect" and "interdependence" and not dominance. (We all know that nothing is ever equal or could be made equal. It is only an ideal.) What is realistic and works is the idea of symbiotic relationship where the different (including the good and the bad because one cannot exist without the other) work together to benefit each other and make things better.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"but it is very unlikely the US is going to allow them to deploy"

Um, the US Navy can't even avoid massive container ships these days, I'm sure a NK vessel of some sort could get through just fine.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

South Korea, long the object of North Korea's military passion, is no longer their target and is unlikely to be hit with nuclear weapons. 

Kim states that he wants a united Korean peninsula under his control. Hit the south with nuclear weapons? What's left to loot?

What would be interesting to see would be the offer of a great powers conference to guarantee the territorial integrity of North Korea.

Perhaps it could be modeled on the Treaty of November 15, 1831 by which Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia guaranteed the perpetual neutrality of Belgium and the integrity and inviolability of its territory. Such an agreement would be more successful than the first for who in the world would want to march an army through NK to attack a third party?

What Kim craves is international respect. It would cost nothing to offer it. If he fails to respond in the hoped for way, nothing lost. Of course, he might simply prefer the position of Caligula (who may have copied it from Tiberius): "oderint dum metuant" (Let them hate me as long as they fear me.) I could live with that and I wouldn't waste any time hating him when all he deserves is ...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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