Comments on: N. Korea’s return to the six-party talks http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:39:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: James http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/#comment-19930 James Tue, 12 Jul 2005 16:53:49 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1794#comment-19930 Knickerbocker is correct, as far as any real significant change or improvement for NK and the region it is a failure. As far as KJI is concerned, it is a victory. Consider this: he can claim to have stared down the US and made them bow to his demands-not a feat even the closest of American allies can claim very often. On top of that, he gets what he wants in terms of security guarantees, aid, subsidies and investment deals from the South. It is not a complete loss for SK or the US either. Bush will claim that diplomacy has prevailed and that he has been able to drive NK back to the bargaining table and avoid the use of force. SK can also claim political victory in that it has been able to successfully prevent arguably one of the most hawkish administrations in the past 50 years from using force to subdue NK solidifying SK?€™s role as a ?€?balancer?€™ in the region and a keeper of peace. The most troubling thing about it all is that NK seems to be getting what it wants for returning to the bargaining table, not necessarily for agreeing to give up their nuclear program in a verifiable manor, granting free and unfettered access to inspectors or even address human rights issues. Knickerbocker is correct, as far as any real significant change or improvement for NK and the region it is a failure. As far as KJI is concerned, it is a victory. Consider this: he can claim to have stared down the US and made them bow to his demands-not a feat even the closest of American allies can claim very often. On top of that, he gets what he wants in terms of security guarantees, aid, subsidies and investment deals from the South. It is not a complete loss for SK or the US either. Bush will claim that diplomacy has prevailed and that he has been able to drive NK back to the bargaining table and avoid the use of force. SK can also claim political victory in that it has been able to successfully prevent arguably one of the most hawkish administrations in the past 50 years from using force to subdue NK solidifying SK?€™s role as a ?€?balancer?€™ in the region and a keeper of peace. The most troubling thing about it all is that NK seems to be getting what it wants for returning to the bargaining table, not necessarily for agreeing to give up their nuclear program in a verifiable manor, granting free and unfettered access to inspectors or even address human rights issues.

]]> By: Knickerbocker http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/#comment-19929 Knickerbocker Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:16:51 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1794#comment-19929 I hate to say this but this whole exercise is doomed to failure. NK already has everything it needs -- record levels of trade, generous subsidies, tacit approval of its human rights violations by not allowing neighboring countries to give safe haven to its political refugees..... What more could it want? I hate to say this but this whole exercise is doomed to failure. NK already has everything it needs — record levels of trade, generous subsidies, tacit approval of its human rights violations by not allowing neighboring countries to give safe haven to its political refugees….. What more could it want?

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/#comment-19928 slim Tue, 12 Jul 2005 09:39:57 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1794#comment-19928 There is no evidence elsewhere that the US has given up on the HEU, which is not logical to expect. Treat Korean media with high suspicion. There is no evidence elsewhere that the US has given up on the HEU, which is not logical to expect. Treat Korean media with high suspicion.

]]> By: James http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/#comment-19927 James Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:41:25 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1794#comment-19927 Interesting that the US has caved into DPRK demands-that is how I see it anyway. I also find it supremely ironic that we now have the DPRK claiming they will work hard towards ensuring that the Korean peninsula is nuclear weapons-thanks a lot-give us the disease and then the cure-smooth. I also find the extent to which the Bush administration are spinning this in a completely opposite direction-focused on making them look as strong and diplomatically capable as possible by omitting what they have agreed to in exchange for the North Koreans returning to the bargaining table. I find it troubling that it sounds like there is at least the possibility that NK and the US will end up in two part talks. Ignoring the HEU project is very troubling because it means that the US is selling out for a failure. The only thing I want to know is if the US agrees to officially recognize the sovereignty of the DPRK, does that mean that US citizens will be able to regularly visit the workers paradise as tourists? Interesting that the US has caved into DPRK demands-that is how I see it anyway. I also find it supremely ironic that we now have the DPRK claiming they will work hard towards ensuring that the Korean peninsula is nuclear weapons-thanks a lot-give us the disease and then the cure-smooth. I also find the extent to which the Bush administration are spinning this in a completely opposite direction-focused on making them look as strong and diplomatically capable as possible by omitting what they have agreed to in exchange for the North Koreans returning to the bargaining table. I find it troubling that it sounds like there is at least the possibility that NK and the US will end up in two part talks. Ignoring the HEU project is very troubling because it means that the US is selling out for a failure.

The only thing I want to know is if the US agrees to officially recognize the sovereignty of the DPRK, does that mean that US citizens will be able to regularly visit the workers paradise as tourists?

]]> By: Simon World http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/07/11/n-koreas-return-to-the-six-party-talks/#comment-19926 Simon World Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:31:40 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1794#comment-19926 Daily linklets 11th July Dan Washburn's Shanghaiist has gone live. It's already been churning out great stuff. Could Hong Kongist be far behind? Condi Rice is clearly getting carried away with North Korea's return to nuclear talks...she's urging China to talk to Taiwan an... Daily linklets 11th July

Dan Washburn’s Shanghaiist has gone live. It’s already been churning out great stuff. Could Hong Kongist be far behind? Condi Rice is clearly getting carried away with North Korea’s return to nuclear talks…she’s urging China to talk to Taiwan an…

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