Posted on 04/14/2009 5:36:01 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
America's N.Korea Envoy Lying Low
Diplomats in Korea are grumbling that the U.S. special envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth has been conspicuous by absence in the 10 days since North Korea launched a long-range rocket.
Bosworth, a part-time government employee, has not been seen in public since he resumed his duties as dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University following a press interview he gave in Washington on April 3, two days before the North launched the rocket. Since then, he has not spoken to South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac, ostensibly his counterpart.
"We know that Ambassador Bosworth visits Washington once a week," a South Korean official complained. "But we don't know what exactly he does there." Another government official here said, "We need more time to find out what sort of North Korea policy Bosworth has in mind."
Some observers say Bosworth is keeping a low profile because he is buying time to fine-tune North Korea policy with U.S. President Barack Obama. "Bosworth may be in some confusion because he has expressed views toward the North that were too conciliatory, apparently because he didn't read President Obama's mind properly," said Prof. Kim Sung-han of Korea University.
In the interview on April 3, Bosworth said pressure on the North was "not the most productive line of approach." He added he was ready to visit Pyongyang and resume the six-party talks once the "dust from the missiles settles." But two days later, Obama came out strongly against the long-range rocket launch, saying, "Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something." There were attacks from conservatives in Washington, who accused the administration of lacking resolve.
(from last night)
http://twitter.com/BreakingNews
# North Korean also says it will consider building its own light-water nuclear power plant; will strengthen self-defensive nuclear deterence.8 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters
# North Korean state media says 6-party talks are useless and it will restart its plant that makes arms-grade plutonium.9 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters
# BULLETIN NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL STRENGTHEN SELF-DEFENSIVE NUCLEAR DETERENCE.16 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters
# BULLETIN NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL CONSIDER BUILDING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.16 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters
# BULLETIN NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL BOYCOTT SIX-PARTY TALKS.17 minutes ago from BNO Headquarters
Why do the S Koreans need guidance from us?
South Korea has double the population and 50 times the economy of the North...Yet the American Taxpayer is footing the bill for their defense, and worse, still RISKING OUR BLOOD for them.
It’s time the S Koreans took charge of their own defense, risking their own treasure and their own blood.
Good riddance.
Ping!
Welcome to the FR North Korean threads!! ;-)
In a way, though, maybe the LESS work these State Department and DC Revolving-Door Think Tank slobs do on North Korea, the BETTER we are off!
I know. Some people ‘should not work hard,’ including Zero. The harder they work, the worse the world gets.:-)
Quick, someone put this on a milk carton.
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