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What’s Victor Cha up to?

by Richardson ~ April 11th, 2007. Filed under: America, Diplomacy, Engagement, Koreans in America, North Korea, U.S.-Korea Relations.

Earlier I raised the possibility that Bill Richardson’s trip to Pyongyang might have had the Bush Administration’s blessing.

Fox News reported last night that Victor Cha accompanied Bill Richardson to Pyongyang, and was spotted there.

For those of you who do not know yet, who is Victor Cha? Check out his White House bio and his Georgetown University bio.

Simply put, he is currently the Director of Asian Affairs for the Bush administration’s National Security Council. He holds the distinction of being one of a handful of Americans of Korean ancestry who are “players” on Korea policy within the administration.

His presence lends a further evidence that the Richardson trip was cleared, perhaps even sponsored by the Bush administration whose posture toward North Korea has dramatically changed of late — for the worse in my view.

So, let’s have a contest: what do the readers think Victor Cha is up to in Pyongyang?

11 Responses to What’s Victor Cha up to?

Richardson
April 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
An all expense paid vacation to Pyongyang in April?!

On the serious side, there is at least one good reason; looking back to Carter’s surprise for Clinton in ’94 (the Agreed Framework), it probably can’t hurt to have someone like Cha to ride herd on Bill Richardson to make sure he doesn’t say or agree to anything he shouldn’t.

It also can’t hurt for Cha to get the experience of going to North Korea and interacting with counterparts there, even if limited.
Shane
April 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Well, as someone who has just recently become aware of the severity of the atrocities taking place in North Korea, let me ask a question - - what are the possibilities that this trip by both men could signify? Are there misgivings about the trip because this could signify a further softening of our foreign policy concerning the Jong-Il regime?

I appreciate the effort and information this site provides, sincerely.
Gerry
April 11th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
A possible double check by the Secretary of State who does not completely trust Richardson?
Richardson
April 12th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Via Kyodo:

U.S. President George W. Bush’s adviser on North Korean affairs, Victor Cha, urged North Korea on Thursday to meet a Saturday deadline to implement steps to denuclearization in line with a six-party agreement, saying time is running out.

“We don’t have a whole lot of time…basically they have to take (the) next step,” Cha, who was part of a U.S. delegation that recently visited Pyongyang, told reporters in Tokyo.

Cha, National Security Council director for Asian affairs and also deputy U.S. representative in the six-way talks on North Korea’s nuclear programs, said he believes that North Korea’s top nuclear negotiator, Kim Kye Gwan, understands “Saturday is an important day…they know that they need to start implementing the actions.”

Cha was referring to the return of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to North Korea, shutting down of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and resumption of the six-party talks, which entered into recess last month due to North Korea’s refusal to engage in substantive talks on denuclearization because of a delay in transferring North Korea-linked funds from a bank in Macao.

“The ball is really in their court,” Cha said, urging the North to get on with denuclearization now that the issue of the funds at the Macao bank has been “completely resolved.”
Richardson
April 12th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
From Yonhap:

Former aide says White House official going with Richardson to prevent confusion

By Lee Dong-min
WASHINGTON, April 7 (Yonhap) — A White House official accompanying what has turned into a high-profile private delegation to North Korea is being sent to avoid giving a mixed message to Pyongyang in the middle of critical denuclearization negotiations, a former director of the National Security Council (NSC) said Saturday.

Michael Green, who headed the Asia team at the council until the end of 2005, described what he saw as White House’s concerns about New Mexico’s Gov. Bill Richardson, a 2008 presidential hopeful, traveling to North Korea.

“Richardson is running for president and really only wants to get publicity out of this. So the administration does not think he can be a reliable messenger,” Green told Yonhap through e-mail.

Richardson left for Pyongyang early Saturday on a four-day trip to receive the remains of American servicemen missing from the Korean War (1950-1953).

Victor Cha, in charge of Korea and Japan at the Council, is joining the governor.
James Na
April 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
So, by the same logic, who accompanied Nancy Pelosi to Syria?

Let me repeat, the White House and the State Department opposed the Pelosi trip publicly.

Yet, the NSC (and presumably the White House) cleared the Richardson trip to North Korea.

For this reason alone, I do not believe the ostensible reason cited above.
Richardson
April 12th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
“…in the middle of critical denuclearization negotiations.”

I don’t think that’s happening in Syria.

Also, NK invited B.R. to pick up the remains of U.S. soldiers.
James Na
April 12th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
True. But unless the administration was on board with the Richardson trip, the NSC had no obligation or reason to “clear” the trip if it had “concerns.”

Even if North Korea made an invitation to Bill Richardson, the administration could’ve simply insisted that an appropriate USG personnel accept the remains. He is the governor of the Land of Enchantment, but after all he no longer represents the USG.
Gerry
April 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Touche’, Whats my prize? (I know, an all expense paid trip to beautiful NK this coming February}.
Richardson
April 16th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
More:

Michael Green, Bush’s former chief adviser on Asia, said in an interview that such gestures are taken very seriously by North Korea.

“They understand power; they understand the seating chart in the White House; they know that (Cha) is close to the president,” said Green, who is now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
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September 8th, 2007 at 11:18 am
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