Read the Headline, Then the Fine Print
by Richardson ~ September 13th, 2007. Filed under: Diplomacy, Engagement, Nuclear Proliferation, Six-Party Talks, Terrorism.From Japan Today, “U.S. ready to take N Korea off terrorism list by year-end.”
Wow, sounds like a done deal. Let’s read a bit of the report:
The United States has decided to remove North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism as early as by the end of the year, if progress is made in improving Japan-North Korea relations, and if progress is made in taking the next steps toward nuclear disarmament, sources involved in the six-party process of denuclearizing the North said Wednesday.
We should make it easier; how about if Kim Jong-il ascends K2 unassisted, we take them off the terror list?
The headline did get me to read the article, though.
September 13th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
it got me as well at first. There is a long way to go though, and if NK is selling or helping make nukes, that takes that off the table obviously.
September 14th, 2007 at 4:53 am
Might not be a bad piece of propaganda to help the image of the USA with the South Korean people ahead of the elections and who knows what when Roh meets KJI at the summit. The headline certainly makes the US look more conciliatory.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Yes, it does help the U.S. look very reasonable, especially to those inclined towards engagement with North Korea.
As I’m inclined towards total strangulation of the regime, I think “folly” when I see headlines like that. But as the conditions set forth are fair (if we keep those standards), I’m not too worried; it’s very unlikely that North Korea will be delisted this year.