NK’s Call for Concessions and a Deal Disingenuous
by Richardson ~ October 11th, 2006. Filed under: Engagement, Nuclear Proliferation, Six-Party Talks.The Reuters headline is, “N.Korea seeks U.S. concessions in nuclear standoff” – I’ll say that North Korea is not actually seeking concessions:
Threatening to put nuclear warheads on missiles and conduct further nuclear tests, a North Korean official said on Tuesday that his country would only return to disarmament talks if the United States made concessions.
“We are still willing to abandon nuclear programs and return to six-party talks… We can do that any time only if the United States takes corresponding measures,” the unidentified [North Korean] official said.
Liar! Considering the U.S. reaction to the missile launches on 4 July this year, and ample warning of what a nuclear test would bring, North Korea’s offer to return to talks now in exchange for concessions is entirely insincere.
Aside from a long historical record, North Korea has recent credibility issues as well. In May the regime emphatically denied any plans for a test, and then announced plans for a test early this month. They then, “denied speculation that its nuclear test was imminent” through Chinese counterparts, only to conduct the test on 9 October.
I think five months to plan the nations first every nuclear test is a bit fast. Maybe a world record, but that’s nothing new for the Dear Leader.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
I’m behind on my reading, and maybe I’ve missed your take…but if Kim Jong Il is not seeking concessions…just what is it he IS seeking ?
The Kim dynasty has, so far, been murderous, but only occasionally stupid. Yeah — when they mess up, it’s on the mucho grande scale (the calculation that the US would not come in in 1950 is in this category)…but still, I’m not getting it. What is it that the regime hopes to accomplish. They’re managing to alienate the Chinese, convince the Japanese to go all the way with rearming, persuade the credulous to the South that they’re really NOT just nice Koreans too. When even Chavez condemns you, it looks like a bad move.
So what is the game here ?
October 11th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
I agree that my position is counterintuitive… a first. Rather than rehash it here, I’ll point you to the long but explanatory post on the subject: North Korea’s Strategic Disengagement.
October 11th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
THANK YOU…Now that makes sense. I’m going to print that and think on it…and may have a comment or three afterwards.
Thanks.
October 12th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
In mid-summer, after the missile test, I was at a public forum where I asked Chris Hill the question what if North Korea actually seeks isolation to preserve his regime. Mr Hill understandably couldn’t know Kim’s motives, but he acknowledged the possibility. If memory serves, he went on to say that isolation prolongs the tragedy of the Norh Korean people. Being a diplomat, he didn’t finish the thought by saying that Kim Jong-l has no record of caring about the tragedy he has inflicted on his people.