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US Ambassador Christopher Hill: N.Korean army "probably not taking civilian direction at this point"
PBS News ^

Posted on 11/26/2010 7:29:40 AM PST by jhpigott

CHRISTOPHER HILL: Well, I agree that we need a peace process.

Our problem right now is, we don’t have an interlocutor. It’s very unclear what’s going on in North Korea. Clearly, they have a succession crisis. They have an army that’s basically a law unto itself, that’s probably not taking civilian direction at this point. So, I think we have problems finding someone over there to talk to.

And, in the meantime, I think it is very important that we work very closely with the South Koreans. I don’t think we want to be in a position of somehow egging them on, nor do we want to be seen as — as pulling them back. I think what we want to be doing is in very, very serious consultations. And I think President Obama is doing just that with President Lee Myung-Bak.

CHRISTOPHER HILL: No, I’m referring to the South Koreans, because there are two ways you can go wrong with the South Koreans. One is to stand thousands of miles away and suggest there needs to be a much firmer response than they’re making. And the second is to somehow, you know, advocate that they do less.

(Excerpt) Read more at pbs.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: appeaser; chrisjonghill; idiot; nkorea; northkorea; sellout; skorea; southkorea
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This could potentially be a big problem. On the PBS Newshour the other day, US Ambassador Christopher Hill said he believes that one of the problems with negotiating with the DPRK is that we do not know at the moment whether the DPRK chain of command is in fact absolutely unified under KJI. He therefore believes that negotiating with the DPRK is problematic and that it is more important to reassure the ROK and try to get China to constrain DPRK bahavior.

This possibility may indeed have some circulation in our government.

1 posted on 11/26/2010 7:29:42 AM PST by jhpigott
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo; maquiladora; AU72

ping


2 posted on 11/26/2010 7:31:13 AM PST by jhpigott
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To: jhpigott

” believes that one of the problems with negotiating with the DPRK is that we do not know at the moment whether the DPRK chain of command is in fact absolutely unified under KJI. “

In other words, he’s not sure who to pay-off...

(I gather that this is the same Christopher Hill who thought the “Six-Party-Talks” were a great success, when they committed greatly increased ‘aid’ (AKA ‘Danegeld’) to NK, for no substantive concessions in return??)


3 posted on 11/26/2010 7:38:32 AM PST by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
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To: jhpigott

That is an insane term “a peace process” when you are talking about an insane dictator


4 posted on 11/26/2010 7:39:35 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: yldstrk

I think Kim and his offspring are merely figureheads, the Army really runs the show, as it was in Japan during WWII.


5 posted on 11/26/2010 7:41:54 AM PST by dfwgator (Congratulations to Josh Hamilton - AL MVP)
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To: jhpigott

Maybe we get lucky and they have a civil ware and Nuke themselves.


6 posted on 11/26/2010 7:42:10 AM PST by screaminsunshine (Americanism vs Communism)
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To: screaminsunshine

Do the intel work, find out where they are all meeting and take them out in a single airstrike. That’s the best diplomacy and china won’t do a thing.


7 posted on 11/26/2010 7:47:50 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Remember March 23, 1775. Remember March 23, 2010)
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To: Uncle Ike

Hill is a maroon, no doubt. But all joking aside, if there really is a chain of command issue, the I’m not so sure the old rules of provacation, negotiate, break promise, provacation still apply. Just makes an already tense situation all the more volatile.


8 posted on 11/26/2010 7:48:54 AM PST by jhpigott
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To: screaminsunshine

Do the intel work, find out where they are all meeting and take them out in a single airstrike. That’s the best diplomacy and china won’t do a thing.

This also sends a strong message to Syria and Iran.

We need a game changer and fast.


9 posted on 11/26/2010 7:48:57 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Remember March 23, 1775. Remember March 23, 2010)
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To: jhpigott

Could some in the NK military be trying to create an incident that flares up into open conflict PRECISELY because they know that is the only way to rid NK of the corrupt leadership?

You can hide the truth of the world’s wealth & enormous freedoms from the poverty stricken starving masses; but it is pretty hard to hide it from every military officer.


10 posted on 11/26/2010 7:54:24 AM PST by macquire
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To: jhpigott

With Clintoon at State and Zero in WH, no one in this country has a clue about what is going on in NK. You can get more diplomacy and foreign policy from a Cracker Jacks box.


11 posted on 11/26/2010 7:55:37 AM PST by Lion Den Dan
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To: EQAndyBuzz

and then when China moves towards SK & NK with “peacekeeping” troops as a result of your first strike against the NK leadership; then what?

Do we confront them (China) or let China have them both.....

Sheese.


12 posted on 11/26/2010 7:55:58 AM PST by macquire
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To: yldstrk
This is the level of insight you get with our "senior diplomats" these days. Does anyone wonder that the rogue elements of the world are running amok.

Re-read the above excerpt. This idiot boy says absolutely nothing, admits he knows nothing of what is going on over there, except that we need to be vewy vewy sewious about it.

13 posted on 11/26/2010 7:57:42 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: EQAndyBuzz
...and take them out in a single airstrike.

Did the DoD ever get "Rods from God" working? Seems like a perfect way to demonstrate the concept......

14 posted on 11/26/2010 8:00:53 AM PST by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: jhpigott
Sounds like NK is turning into a military cabal like Burma.

This can't end well.

15 posted on 11/26/2010 8:02:07 AM PST by AU72
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To: dfwgator

I doubt it.


16 posted on 11/26/2010 8:02:12 AM PST by macquire
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To: macquire
and then when China moves towards SK & NK with “peacekeeping” troops as a result of your first strike against the NK leadership;

China would have it's hands full trying to keep a few million starving Nork refugees from fleeing into China. This is what China really fears and if the current administration had any cajones at all they would use it and a trade tariff on Chinese imports to their advantage. It's about time we became a thorn in China's side for a change, instead of funding their military build up and helping them become the next superpower nation. Fight small battles now so you don't have to fight a big war later......

17 posted on 11/26/2010 8:05:46 AM PST by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: screaminsunshine
Maybe we get lucky and they have a civil ware and Nuke themselves.

Sort of like what we're doing here in the USA.... :(

18 posted on 11/26/2010 8:08:07 AM PST by MarineBrat (Better dead than red!)
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To: jhpigott

” But all joking aside “

You’re right, of course - this is too serious for even gentle humor....

And your point is absolutely valid, about the Carter/Bush/Clinton-albright/Bush-rice/Obama-clinton model of NK relations no longer being applicable....

(I don’t remember whether Reagan had anything significant happen with NK during his Administration)

That being the case, it would appear that somebody needs to figure out, or establish, the new ‘roles/rules’, before this (more-or-less) accidentally sets of the World War that nobody (except for a few of our Keyboard Kommandos) wants to even contemplate.....


19 posted on 11/26/2010 8:08:46 AM PST by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
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To: Uncle Ike
In other words, he’s not sure who to pay-off...


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

20 posted on 11/26/2010 8:11:19 AM PST by The Comedian (Government: Saving people from freedom since time immemorial.)
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