Posted on 07/04/2006 6:36:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Six-party talks: Dead? Tensions around the Sea of Japan: Off the charts. And in Washington: What do we do now?
North Korea delivered some unwanted fireworks to the Bush administration on the Fourth of July, shooting off missiles in an act heard around the globe. Now the White House must figure out how to transform what it calls a "provocation" into an opportunity.
"We're just going to have to do our homework, do the analysis and see what we can divine about what they had in mind," National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said of North Korea.
Even before North Korea's latest move, regional talks on the country's nuclear program were stalled, some observers say functionally dead, though they had not been declared so.
Suddenly, with missiles plunging into the Sea of Japan, the idea that any of the negotiators would sit down in a relatively cordial and non-confrontational atmosphere seems inconceivable for the forseeable future.
The temperature-taking is about to begin, with Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill heading to the region for discussions with South Korea, Japan and China about their views and whether the six-party talks are headed for the graveyard.
Sandy Berger, the National Security Adviser in the Clinton administration, said on CNN the United States ultimately would have to enter direct talks with North Korea because the six-party talks have failed.
Another of the many downsides to North Korea's action is the lesson that missile tests might offer for other countries unfriendly to the United States. Take, for example, Iran.
North's Korea's Independence Day display got the attention of the world in a way all of Iran's rhetoric hasn't. None of this is lost on the White House, which wasted no time in letting the two bad boys on the block know where things stand.
"The message that we do not want a nuclear North Korea or a nuclear weapon-armed Iran that message is the same message and the international community is unified in sending that message," said Hadley. "So that is the lesson that we hope both the Iranians and North Koreas will draw from this."
If there's a silver lining to Tuesday's events, some observers argue, it might be the failure of the long-range Taepodong 2 missile.
On the other hand, says Selig Harrison, an American scholar on the North Korean regime, the flop of the Taepodong 2 could have the unfortunate effect of strengthening the hand of the North Korean military leaders who have argued for more frequent testing of the missile.
Unless the United States succeeds with new diplomatic advances soon, the North Korean generals may win an internal argument in favor of speeding up their missile development program, Harrison said.
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White House reporter Deb Riechmann, diplomatic writer Anne Gearan, military writer Bob Burns and Washington reporter Larry Margasak contributed to this report.
One of the talking heads on Fox said that North Korea was getting its funding for its missiles and weapons from Iran.
Since China can not or will not do anything about North Korea then provide Japan with the bomb.
I think we should at least cut off the aid we send him, possibly impose a blockade. Shoot down any more missiles leaving the country with the help of Aegis. Give Japan a missile defense and extend our own. And pull our troops out of South Korea.
The New York Times espionage agents could get on the Bush Administration's good side by traveling to Pyongyang and Yongbyon and revealing all the secrets of the North Korean nuclear and missile programs. But they won't risk life or limb to get a story that might help protect America. They do risk their own future as an institution under American protection because they reveal our secrets to our enemies.
Yet another example of the MSM trying to set up a shadow government. News to CNN, "Clinton ISN'T THE PRESIDENT, so what Burgler has to say is meaningless."
thank you for common sense, something missing in great part from these threads.
And speaking of the NYT, if this laser system is as good as it seems to be, "W" could light up that little NYT world and no one would be the wiser, eh!
yes, and sending 10 instead of one was a brilliant way of saving face and accounting for possible test failure of the main test as well. remains to be seen what if any actual consequences this brings internationally.
Well a blockade can be interpreted as a 'Act of War'.
Crazy Kim could react with a second Korean War.
It would be something we would have to coordinate with the current milquetoast South Korean government.
Japan would be solid, if they were not getting ready for an election. Timing I think right now is bad and favors North Korea.
Also we are getting ready to be irrational since an election is on the horizon.
Impact...... Impact?
Uh... that'd be four medium sized 'thud's, with a whole bunch of little tiny thuds and a splash grouped tightly together in the middle of them.
I think we will find out what the fallout of this within the next couple of weeks.
This is all about China. And it's time to recognize that, and deal with it on that level.
Inform China that if they don't want to see a nuclear Taiwan, we better not see a nuclear N Korea.
Much better. Where is the withdrawal plan from the ungrateful Korean peninsula?
No more blood for crappy electronics, and lousy ungrateful people that hate us. Give the whole dungpile to China, or let them fight the Japanese.
amen! let the south koreans and japan handle this garbage. We cant hold these countrys hands forever
The only motivation kim can have is if we pound his launch sites, and perhaps his nuke facilities.
Yes, it's a risk - its a bigger risk for him if he retalliates - but as you point out, he will not stop until he's 'motivated.'
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