Nonetheless, whatever’s ailing Kim, he doesn’t look good. There are reports that North Korea is working on a biopic about his life, “I Will Add Glory to Korea,” — which has the air of a eulogy. There are a raft of signs that the second transition of power in North Korea’s 61 year history may soon arrive. All of which means that North Korea may be entering a period of particular vulnerability — and opportunity for the free world, should President Obama choose to exploit it.
Pushed by the U.S. — with Russia and China moaning and groaning all the way — the United Nations made a move in the right direction on Thursday, imposing sanctions on five North Korean trading companies and individuals connected with Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. But much more is needed, not only in the way of fingering North Korean companies and individuals (Come on folks, does anyone think that North Korea’s international WMD rackets are the work of just five guys?) but also in the way of enforcing such stuff.
Let’s say it again — one of the great weaknesses of UN sanctions is that enforcement is effectively left to individual member states. It is up to China, for instance, to ensure that China complies with the sanctions that China finally agreed to vote for. And there really aren’t any penalties at the UN for breaking those rules. That’s how, during the UN’s Oil-for-Food program in Iraq, Syria functioned as a major sanctions-busting smuggling conduit for Saddam, while also sitting on the UN sanctions committee.
The temptation for Washington’s diplomats, as this North Korea story grinds forward, will be to try to translate Pyongyang’s power struggle into an elaborate new disarmament deal at the bargaining table. Bad mistake. What Washington really needs to take on board is the idea that the best outcome — and everything possible should be done to urge it along — would be for the North Korean regime itself to die along with Kim Jong Il.
NPR has been going on and on about an Obama administrator meeting in Japan chanting to NK that ‘it’s not too late’ for them to return to the six party talks.
Its like telling a problem child that its not too late for them to act good and get a load of Christmas presents. Of course this child knows the presents are already bought and he’ll get gifts anyways.
What we should be doing is say, “We will not negotiate with you until you make and follow through on some concessions first.” In other words, no Christmas for you and unless you improve immediately those gifts are going on ebay.
(giggle)….
“North Korea is a country in which even the ruler’s birth date isn’t clear.” (…giggle)….
…sorry…I’ll stop….in a minute
I hope his pancreas fail…quickly.
We may not know how old Kimmy is but one thing is for certain: HE IS FUGLY!
We should offer Obama to the North Koreans during negotiations. As a practicing Marxist, Obama would be a much better fit as Kim’s successor than he is as America’s president.
I checked with North Korean defectors, and Kim Jong-il was born in 1941 according to them. The year when he was born does matter very little. His birthdate matters, which is February 16, or 2/16, or 6x6x6. He uses this number for everything, on his car plate number, for his so-called electoral district(?), and for his favorite army unit. 6x6x6 = 216. NK propaganda claims Kim Jong-il was born in Paek Doo Mountain, which translates “White Head Mountain.” Kim was born in Soviet Union, not in Korea. Anyhow, Our Dear Leader is turning into a White Head soon to become a Dead Leader, as Claudia put it nicely. I want to add, “The Sooner, The Better!”
The same applies to Iran. They are entering a period of unscheduled transition and utter instability. Where are these wise men who would not let a crisis go to waste when we need them?
I hope he will soon be followed by Chavez, the Castro boyz, and Amadinajob (sp).
KJong and his boys are facing new realities as UN resolution 1874 has begun to change business as usual. The diminished ability for them to whet their “appetites” has heightened their psychosis and landed KJ in isolation.
With only China to depend on; the socialist “utopia” of NK faces ongoing international discussions on how best to handle them. The scrutiny will, along with a chinese stiff arm, hasten KJongs exit from this life to a front row seat in the “smoking” section.
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http://www.dailynk.com./english/sub_list.php?cataId=nk02300
The frustrating issue dealing with North Korea isn’t its nuclear weapons or even it’s conventional arsenals. The sad fact is that their massive population, with their horrifically low standard of living, represent a huge threat whenever the North finally falls. The closest historical model is of course the reunification of Germany. To this day, West Germany still is subsidizing the East half. Not only that, but the long term effects of rapid reunification had a down turn on the entire European economy. But East Germany had the highest standard of living among the Soviet States. Furthermore, the population of West Germany was much larger than the East. Add in the fact that while the East German government was repressive…it was a holiday trip compare to the extensive and intrusive brutality that occurs in the North. With North and South Korea, the economic disparity is so much more severe and the population involve in the North is close to the population in the South. The massive influx of refugees that would occur could destabilize not only South Korea, but also the border area in China and Japan (all of which already have substantial Korean populations). This in turn would lead to a huge chilling effect to all the Asian economies as South Korea is one of the largest ones. This in turn would have drastic consequences for the global economy which sure as heck isn’t firing on all cylinders as it stands.
So the entire point of all this jibberish is that neither China, nor South Korea under the previous administration’s “Sun Shine” policy, want the North to continue to exist as they current do, but rather increase the standard of living there so as when the country does eventually fall, it does not result in a cataclysmic immigration problem that effects far beyond the borders of the North. Its frustrating in that Kim Jong Il basically is holding his people hostage and uses them as an economic threat to get what he wants.
The most fitting thing that could happen in N. Korea would be for the starving people there to rise up and EAT the entire Communist leadership. I would gladly supply the kimchee.