Comments on: Diplomatic gymnastics http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/08/23/diplomatic-gymnastics/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:36:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: snow http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/08/23/diplomatic-gymnastics/#comment-22130 snow Wed, 24 Aug 2005 01:50:08 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1942#comment-22130 I think what it comes down to is that Roh's government is basically willing to give the Norks plenty of room so as to forestall the dreaded possibility of unification. They don't really care if the Norks have nukes, as they don't expect they would ever use them. In my opinion, they almost seem to have the attitude of 'Let the Norks do whatever they want, make nukes, fry people in camps, whatever, so long as they don't implode or explode'. In other words, they are definitely looking after their own interests, everyone else be damned (and it's the US that gets so much flack for acting in their own interests). I think what it comes down to is that Roh’s government is basically willing to give the Norks plenty of room so as to forestall the dreaded possibility of unification. They don’t really care if the Norks have nukes, as they don’t expect they would ever use them. In my opinion, they almost seem to have the attitude of ‘Let the Norks do whatever they want, make nukes, fry people in camps, whatever, so long as they don’t implode or explode’. In other words, they are definitely looking after their own interests, everyone else be damned (and it’s the US that gets so much flack for acting in their own interests).

]]> By: Sperwer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/08/23/diplomatic-gymnastics/#comment-22129 Sperwer Tue, 23 Aug 2005 16:53:12 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1942#comment-22129 VW is correct. There's a very fine distinction being made. It's not ANY "peaceful" use of nuclear energy that is being talked about here as permissible for the Norks. It's the use of nuclear technology for very limited medical and agricultural purposes. This is apparently being offered up by the relatively more responsible elements in the Chamberlain, sorry - Roh - government, such as Ban, as the usual BS face-saving gesture. [I say BS, because if everyone knows its only a face-saving gesture, then it doesn't really save anyone's face, it just creates a festering resentment on the side whose face is (not really) being saved that will compound the problem in the long run - but that's another topic]. What's clearly not on offer is any sort of nuclear energy program or anything else that will give the NORKS continuing access to any sort of fissible of fusionable material susceptible of being weaponized or the means to generate it (i.e., power plants). Of course, I am assuming that it is Ban and not Chung Dong Dumb who is really speaking for ROKGOV. If that's correct, then perhaps there is really isn't any significant difference between the US and ROK on this score, [and maybe there's an unspoken understanding that Chung is on a detour and frolic and will be left alone because it serves "our" side's (sides' ?) interest(s) to let him create a little confusion.] It's still very complicated, though, because even if such a tiny window as medical research is left open, you can be sure that the NORKS will try mightily to convert it into a topic of endlessly protracted negotiations, a la the POW repatriation issue during the Korean War armistice negotiations, so as to create a dynamic in which they continue to get a lot of goodies from whomever is stupid enugh to provide them while the process lurches along. The bottom line is that it's time for Sunshine and appeasement to produce some real dividends. And the only way we'll know if they will is if it's made clear to the NORKS that absolutely NO more "investment" in solar magic will be forthcoming unless there is some tangible return now on the previous invesment that's been made - a hard "cash" return, not just PR kisses like Geumgang, Kaesong and reunions. VW is correct. There’s a very fine distinction being made. It’s not ANY “peaceful” use of nuclear energy that is being talked about here as permissible for the Norks. It’s the use of nuclear technology for very limited medical and agricultural purposes. This is apparently being offered up by the relatively more responsible elements in the Chamberlain, sorry - Roh - government, such as Ban, as the usual BS face-saving gesture. [I say BS, because if everyone knows its only a face-saving gesture, then it doesn't really save anyone's face, it just creates a festering resentment on the side whose face is (not really) being saved that will compound the problem in the long run - but that's another topic].

What’s clearly not on offer is any sort of nuclear energy program or anything else that will give the NORKS continuing access to any sort of fissible of fusionable material susceptible of being weaponized or the means to generate it (i.e., power plants).

Of course, I am assuming that it is Ban and not Chung Dong Dumb who is really speaking for ROKGOV. If that’s correct, then perhaps there is really isn’t any significant difference between the US and ROK on this score, [and maybe there's an unspoken understanding that Chung is on a detour and frolic and will be left alone because it serves "our" side's (sides' ?) interest(s) to let him create a little confusion.]

It’s still very complicated, though, because even if such a tiny window as medical research is left open, you can be sure that the NORKS will try mightily to convert it into a topic of endlessly protracted negotiations, a la the POW repatriation issue during the Korean War armistice negotiations, so as to create a dynamic in which they continue to get a lot of goodies from whomever is stupid enugh to provide them while the process lurches along.

The bottom line is that it’s time for Sunshine and appeasement to produce some real dividends. And the only way we’ll know if they will is if it’s made clear to the NORKS that absolutely NO more “investment” in solar magic will be forthcoming unless there is some tangible return now on the previous invesment that’s been made - a hard “cash” return, not just PR kisses like Geumgang, Kaesong and reunions.

]]> By: virtual wonderer http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/08/23/diplomatic-gymnastics/#comment-22128 virtual wonderer Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:00:36 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1942#comment-22128 gggrrr.. this is pretty complicated. Let's say DPRK produces peaceful nuclear reactor. Given their technology and their general lack of competence, shouldn't we have more fear of a Chernobyl style meltdown? If we don't supply them with "safe" technology, they probably will run such shoddy reactors and produce weapons grade materials. And yet, just because we give them "safe" technology and reactors doesn't necessarily mean that DPRK would stop screwing around. I will give Shakuhachi $10 if he would move his place of domicile in the general vicinity of projected wind direction from NK to Japan. *evil eye* I also thought Christopher Hill was pretty clear on CSPAN interviews that US has no problem with peaceful nuclear research in such estoric fields as medical research, and at least on those points, US and ROK is in agreement. gggrrr.. this is pretty complicated. Let’s say DPRK produces peaceful nuclear reactor. Given their technology and their general lack of competence, shouldn’t we have more fear of a Chernobyl style meltdown? If we don’t supply them with “safe” technology, they probably will run such shoddy reactors and produce weapons grade materials. And yet, just because we give them “safe” technology and reactors doesn’t necessarily mean that DPRK would stop screwing around. I will give Shakuhachi $10 if he would move his place of domicile in the general vicinity of projected wind direction from NK to Japan. *evil eye*

I also thought Christopher Hill was pretty clear on CSPAN interviews that US has no problem with peaceful nuclear research in such estoric fields as medical research, and at least on those points, US and ROK is in agreement.

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