Although it is small potatoes internationally, North Korea has detained 2 American journalists and moved them for interrogation to Pyongyang. Kim Jong Il too believes that “you never want to let a serious crisis go to waste”. With Washington preoccupied with the financial turmoil, the Dear Leader may believe he can get away with anything he wants.
A diplomatic source said the two reporters were on the frozen Tumen river, which runs along the eastern portion of the border with China, when they were taken by North Korean security guards. The arrest has raised alarm in Washington because it took three months to secure the release of an American in 1996 after he was detained by North Korean guards when he crossed the Yalu River that also separates the North and China.
Kim wants money and probably wants tacit approval to test his missiles over Japan. The detention of the two US reporters is taking place at a time when South Korea and Japan are increasingly worried about Pyongyang’s intentions.
BEIJING (AP) — South Korea’s top nuclear negotiator arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks aimed at reviving efforts to verify North Korea’s nuclear programs amid growing unease over Pyongyang’s plans to launch a rocket. …
The flurry of activity comes amid concerns about North Korea’s declaration that it will fire a rocket in early April in violation of a U.N. ban prohibiting the country from ballistic activity. Some fear the launch is a cover for the test-fire of long-range missile technology. Wi will focus on working out contingency plans in case Pyongyang goes ahead with the rocket launch, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.”As the clock ticks, we are placing more weight on countermeasures after a launch,” he was quoted by Yonhap as saying before he left for Beijing on Tuesday.
They work for Al Gore. Let them rot.
“The flurry of activity comes amid concerns about North Korea’s declaration that it will fire a rocket in early April in violation of a U.N. ban prohibiting the country from ballistic activity.”
I am sure that Lil Kim is sweating about the UN ban. Like all thugs he is just looking for a way to improve his extortion racket and in Obama he sees a kid who won’t fight to keep his lunch money. Expect things to get worse, especially if Obama refuses to let the Navy interfere with Kim’s toys.
What a great opportunity for the Obama administration. Shooting down the Nork Rocket in April would distract from the financial mess and let BHO look tough on the cheap. A follow-up naval exercise in the Sea of Japan would allow the Norks to conveniently repatriate the journalists.
Or will the President let this crisis go to waste?
We do not react on behalf of Mr Gore any more than we toppled the Taliban on behalf of the 9-11 widows. A sovereign nation reacts to offenses against its interests. The Chinese and Russians can assist or not.
Destroy ballistic missile and artillery installations.
Begin the following actions with approximately 24 hours between each step if the Pyongyang regime does not comply.
1) Demand the release of the hostages and the full compliance of North Korea with an inspection and disarmament program.
2) Announce publicly that we are prepared to feed 20,000,000, for 90 days, explain the steps we shall take.
3) Evacuate all but a a handful of Forward Observers from the DMZ.
4) Station 2 CVBGs about equidistant between Wonson, Vladivostok and Pohang.
5) Institute a full blockade of North Korea by air and sea, no aircraft may fly, no patrol craft or fishing boats can leave harbor.
6) Destroy the missile launch facilities.
7) Destroy nuclear facilities.
9) Destroy all military and government installations.
I have no idea where the smiley face came from.
Lifeofthemind recommends:
Destroy….
Destroy….
Destroy….
Destroy….
programmer responds:
This is not a board game. North Korea has (to paraphrase a Marine friend of mine) a whole snitpot of heavy artillery and rockets pointed south. This artillery is in hardened emplacements that will preclude 100% probability of destruction. Seoul is well in range of the surviving artillery.
China is not going to stand aside while we reduce one of her “protectorates”. Are we ready to take on China?
Given the current political situation in South Korea, we may not be able to count on South Korea for support.
In any situation, there exists a worst possible solution and a best possible solution. In between usually lie several sub-optimal, but acceptable solutions. Attempting to destroy North Korea, IMHO, is the worst possible solution in our current situation.
programmer,
I derive no pleasure from violence, you are right, this is no board game, these are human beings.
That is why credibility counts, that is why we spent hundreds of billions of dollars preparing for and rehearsing annihilation for 45 years. All that was done so that Obama could grow up sheltered and feckless, so that Kim jong Il and his ilk of the world would be contained. As Sam Spade says of threats, they all have to have the fear of killing behind them to work. If we can convince Kim to back off by showing him pictures of the cast of the View looking real concerned or sorry then go for it. I start out by saying marshall the humanitarian aid because I expect North Korea to crumble as everyone scrambles for food. If we cannot lay out a series of expected costs if they do not step off the escalation ladder then Kim faces no constraint at all.
Life,
And what about traffic between China and NoKor? Should we interdict that?
Lifeofthemind@7 thoughtfully responds:
If we cannot lay out a series of expected costs if they do not step off the escalation ladder then Kim faces no constraint at all.
programmer agrees:
We just do not agree on the proposed cost/benefit. Actually, I’m not so sure that your suggestion of showing him pictures of the cast of the View might not be pretty darn frightening (at least they scare the heck out of me).
@1 Marine83′s got the right idea. . .
Look guys, Journo’s go into war and other danger zones risk jail and getting their a*ses shot off. It is part of the macho of the profession; one of the things that makes them useful. You’ve got to ask yourself (esp. if you’re the O admin.) “is this the time to escalate into direct confrontation with NoKo? Or do we want to revive the 6 party talks used with some effectiveness by the hated Bush admin. My $$’s on option 2.
But unlike Marine83, I’d say let ‘em marinate.
Obama’s already making his move. His allies in Congress seek to end Boeing’s Airborne Laser program that shoots down Ballistic Missiles.
Obama HATES HATES HATES America. That should be clear. He’s a crypto-Muslim and a crypto-Marxist (together). Bundled in with a huge hatred for White Men.
OF COURSE Obama will surrender. He hates America and most Americans. Simple as that.
exhelodrvr,
In a word, No. China’s conduct will help determine her relations with the US for the next 50 years.
If we want the NorK regime to wind down with the minimum violence then the cooperation of China and Russia should be part of the process. This could be a Good Cop/Bad Cop or Mutt and Jeff byplay. We should be constantly engaged in back channel discussions with Beijing on these issues.
programmer,
Thank you, pretty darn sadistic aren’t I? You haven’t even heard of my plan to send them Rosie O’Donnell.
Okay, this looks like a good time to expound a pet idea of mine and other wise demonstrate my genius/madness (take your pick )
First thing to do with North Korea is to go sink the Pueblo. Don’t talk about it, before, during, or after the event. Just send in a couple of planes, blast the ship and then disappear. Then keep quiet.
The Pueblo is their symbol of invincibility.
Their good luck charm, rabbit foot, talisman, anting-anting, etc etc and so forth.
They lose it, they lose their cool and quite probably a lot of their nerve. We proceed from there with an eye to negotiating their surrender.
IMLTHO this would be the most beneficial PSYOP
strike since some B25s paid a courtesy call on Tokyo. Keep it in mind, please.