Does the ROK govt realize how this sounds?
by Richardson ~ December 15th, 2005. Filed under: Anti-Americanism, Engagement, U.S.-Korea Relations.From the JoongAng (reporter Brian Lee is on a roll, but I guess he reports, we decide): Seoul steps up effort to curb U.S. rhetoric
December 16, 2005 ㅡ Korean government officials here launched a barrage of complaints yesterday at U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow for his recent attacks on North Korea’s counterfeiting and drug-running activities. Washington dismissed the complaints; a U.S. Embassy official here said the ambassador’s comments were consistent with U.S. policy. (emphasis added)
The U.S. ambassador stating FACTS about North Korea, and consistent with U.S. policy. Maybe the South Koreans will declare him persona non grata and see how that falls out with Washington.
December 16th, 2005 at 7:28 am
But certainly the US knew how the South and North Koreans would react to those kinds of remarks. What’s the U.S. strategy here?
December 16th, 2005 at 9:17 am
I don’t have any inside information, so I am just speculating. Could be a few things. Maybe the U.S. feels that the Six-Party Talks are hopeless and doesn’t feel that being free with the truth will matter much one way or the other. Could be that Vershbow is indeed a loose cannon shooting his mouth off (though I don’t think so). Maybe the U.S. is simply reiterating its position before the next round of talks so that there is absolutely no confusion about the issues that will be raised. Or maybe the U.S. is taking a page from the North Korean play book by toting a harder line before the next round of talks (if they occur) so that by not raising those issues in negotiations – just hammering on the nuke issue – it will seem as if the U.S. is easing off a bit. \
I’ll admit that what Vershbow said was not very diplomatic, but it was true. When the RO govt complains, it is consistent with their past actions of ignoring what the DPRK does and acting like the emperor with no clothes. But the *know* they have no clothes.
No easy answers on this, and I’ll stick with my usual disclaimer that I think nothing truly significant will change on the nuke issue while KJI is in power.
December 20th, 2005 at 8:55 am
Another possibility is that the US is wraping things up in Iraq and that GW would like to get the ball rolling on another war before election season.