The overall situation with North Korea is really quite simple . . .
China, Russia AND North Korea all want the U.S. influence in Asia to be reduced, and ultimately want the U.S. out of South Korea. North Korea wants the U.S. out more than anything else so that Kim and the North can eventually take control over South Korea.
China wants to take control over Taiwan, but is held back from doing so by U.S. military presence and power in the Region. The long-term play is to continue diminishing U.S. influence there... and eventually retake Taiwan before expanding elsewhere. Russia has increasingly become encircled by U.S. military and economic infuence to the west and south, and they will take advantage of any opportunity to push back to the east/southeast - even through North Korea and their nukes. Neither Russia nor China feel seriously threatened by Kim and co., but they are very threatened by the alpha male: the USA.
China and Russia are simply continuing to use North Korea as their proxy agent against the United States and, to a lesser extent, Japan ... This is no secret, our intellence community understands exactly what is going on, but our political leaders lack the courage to publicly acknowledge that reality and challenge the communists...
And the reason for this lack of courage? Easy: the same reason that our political leaders do not acknowledge the reality of the financial problems that await the country due to unfunded commitments for Social Security and Medicare.... Attempting to solve such problems will require the country to pay a price in the short-term that the bulk of the populace is not willing to pay. Attempting to take on China and Russia - who are just acting through their front-man Kim - would "cost" too much politically . . .
The real game of chess here is between the big boys - the U.S., China and Russia. North Korea is just the pawn in the game. Cold War II has been under way for years - we just haven't come to acknowledge and address it openly yet.
I would not disagree you. Well stated.
well stated.
Russia has lost much of its influence of eastern Europe and Schroeder was voted out. Putin lost a major ally there.
Russia has Syria and Iran left in the middle-east. So China and Russia they still see NK and asia as a way to exert influence in the region.
Russia no longer has the military to thug its way around the world. All they have now is energy and nuclear weapons. The two things they have left to exert power these days and are using it every way they can. Its a crime they are allowed into the G8. THey have the economy of Holland.