9 Responses to North Korea in the News

1. Jack
   May 22nd, 2007 at 3:10 am

   “NKorea inmates face inhumanity in labor camps: report”

   What is next? “The sun will rise tomorrow morning: report”

2. Richardson
   May 22nd, 2007 at 7:35 am

   It does seem like another report by CPT Obvious to those of us who follow North Korea, but it’s good to see such descriptions hitting mainstream news wires. Stories like that often filter down into hometown papers across the U.S. It’s also a good counter – a dose of reality – to the stories claiming NK has a “plausible excuse” for its actions in regard to the Six-Party Talks, even if not related to proliferation.

3. Gerry
   May 25th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

   US-SK allience could end in ten years. I think this would be a turn in the right direction for this part of the world. The sooner the US leaves SK the better for all concerned, especially the US. China would love us , Japan would get off its butt, and NK and SK could play cat and mouse all day long.

4. Richardson
   May 25th, 2007 at 10:04 pm

   I think the U.S. leaving Korea would be one of the worst foreign policy moves we could make;

   http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HI09Dg02.html

   Stability, peace, and especially influence are not things we should throw away lightly.

5. Gerry
   May 25th, 2007 at 10:46 pm

   What stability do we bring to South Korea, other than to keep them from shooting themselves in the foot. Our troops are treated like garbage and the focus of tacit approved anti american protests as a matter of policy. The government of SK likes to hold us by the nose while it kicks our butt for political gain. And the US needs this? For political influence? Our agreements and influence should not be thrown away lightly, but made an example of what can happen when the US military and american policies are used for detrimental purposes to the allience. A little respect from SK would be appreciated.

6. Richardson
   May 26th, 2007 at 8:02 am

   Regional stability – the big picture. The article linked to above explains in greater detail, as does this;

   http://www.dprkstudies.org/2006/07/25/the-coming-east-asian-arms-race/

7. Gerry
   May 26th, 2007 at 8:36 pm

   I read the article, but it it tells of arms buidups by SK and Japan to counter the vacumm the US would leave behind. The remainder is speculative and mostly overblown as to the effects of a pullout. As for benifits to the US, I believe they would be many. Including no longer being responsible for poor policy from our Asian friends. The reduction of troops and expenditures, as well as the removal our our troops from a potentially hot spot. Our country can deal with North korea equally as well from Japan, Okinawa, and Guam. If China wants to invade NK, (which I strongly doubt), it can, with all the inherent responsibility that would come from a nation that has been a virtual gulag for 50 years.

8. Richardson
   May 26th, 2007 at 8:51 pm

   Sorry, I’ll have to continue to disagree. As I detailed in the article, I see the benefits of regional stability as far, far outweighing the cost of troops in Korea. I’ve still not seen any convincing counter argument to that, and doubt I will, under current conditions.

9. Gerry
   May 26th, 2007 at 9:03 pm

   There is always a sense of , well its always been that way, so we should leave it that way. Politicians are not too bright to begin with and to ask them to think outside the box or come up with a policy that would be original and for the betterment of the region is beyond them. The call would have to come from the President or possibly Sec of State or Sec of Def, (With presidential approval). It is ,I agree, highly unlikely to happen. That does not mean to say it would not be the correct move. To sit and wait until something happens is not a good policy.

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