No dice. Albright is now writing worthless editorials (which are semi-promptly dissected at TastyManatees.com), not deciding policy.
Tasty Manatees
Posted on 08/28/2003 8:59:22 AM PDT by witnesstothefall
BEIJING ¯ Proposing four steps to end the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has offered a comprehensive settlement with the United States that would lead to the dismantling of Pyeongyang’s weapons program.
The details of the proposal were contained in the text of North Korea’s keynote address at the six-party talks here on the crisis. The text was obtained by the JoongAng Ilbo.
Kim Yong-il, North Korea’s deputy foreign minister and the chief delegate of the talks, presented the proposal to the delegates of China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States on Wednesday.
North Korea identified the four steps which it and the United States would take simultaneously to bring an end eventually to the nuclear programs at the core of the crisis.
“First, we will declare our intention to give up the nuclear program in return for Washington’s resumption of fuel oil supply and expanded humanitarian food aid,” Mr. Kim’s keynote statement said.
As a second step, North Korea said it would freeze its nuclear activities and allow inspections of its facilities if the United States signs a non-aggression treaty with the Pyeongyang and compensates the North for lost energy supplies, the statement said.
In the third step, Pyeongyang will resolve concerns associated with its missile systems in return for establishing diplomatic relations with Washington and Tokyo, according to the text of the speech.
In the final step, the North said it will dismantle its nuclear facilities at the point of completion of two light-water reactors.
North Korea demanded a legally binding non-aggression pact from the United States, warning that providing a verbal assurance of its security will not do. The North also rejected the possibility of a joint security assurance by Washington, Beijing and Moscow.
The North’s proposal to the United states is not a new one. Mr. Kim’s speech indicated that the approach was offered in April to U.S. chief delegate James Kelly when China mediated talks between the two countries here. Firmly maintaining the four-step measure, the North Koreans also added two suggestions to conclude the six-way talks positively.
North Korea proposed that it and the United States clearly express their intentions to resolve the concerns about each other. “Ending U.S. hostile policy is the precondition to resolve this nuclear issue,” the North’s statement said. “In return for the U.S. announcement that it will sign a non-aggression treaty and establish diplomatic relations with North Korea and that it will not disturb economic exchanges between the North and other countries, we will make public our intention to give up the nuclear programs.”
North Korea also urged that all participants of the six-way talks agree on the principle of acting simultaneously to resolve the crisis. The proposal is an indication that Pyeongyang said it would agree to more multilateral talks in seeking an agreement.
“Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is North Korea’s ultimate goal, and it is not our aim to possess nuclear weapons,” the North stated.
Mr. Kim’s keynote speech officially denied allegations that the North had a clandestine nuclear program, claiming that the United States unilaterally made such an assertion in October.
“Without solid evidence, the United States accused us of developing a new clandestine nuclear weapons program with uranium enrichment,” North Korea said. “We replied we have something stronger than a program with enriched uranium. We have stronger weapons, such as national solidarity.”
Delegates of the six countries continued to discuss the North’s keynote speech yesterday morning at the plenary session. A series of bilateral talks followed in the afternoon. The six countries reportedly aim to adopt a joint statement at the end of the talks, which wrap up today.
The War in Iraq and the War on Terror are going smashingly well, despite the Democrats. But Bush's real test is in Beijing.
NK is really really asking for it. The Chinese are only too happy to see us get even further tied up in knots economically and militarily in Korea, short of war.
Does Bush have the will to cut the Gordian Knot?
Yes, Alex, I'll take 'Hey, it worked on Clinton' for 400.
As a second step, North Korea said it would freeze its nuclear activities and allow inspections of its facilities if the United States signs a non-aggression treaty with the Pyeongyang and compensates the North for lost energy supplies, the statement said.
"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time... Go home and get a nice quiet sleep." - Neville Chamberlain
In the third step, Pyeongyang will resolve concerns associated with its missile systems in return for establishing diplomatic relations with Washington and Tokyo, according to the text of the speech.
Can I use my lifeline? I'd like to call former President and diplomat-at-large Jimmy Carter.
In the final step, the North said it will dismantle its nuclear facilities at the point of completion of two light-water reactors.
'Disa mantele heyo' being an old Korean word meaning 'build as many more as we can'.
As a famous diplomat once said, 'This is the biggest load of horse@%^& I've ever heard in my life.' The DRPK must have been getting negotiation advice from Dr. Evil. If this is the best that North Korea has to offer, then I'd avoid any trips to Yongbyon in the near future, because JDAM season is coming, and the forecast is for pain.
Kim obviously placed his letter to Santa in the wrong envelope. He's quickly running out of time to cut a deal. His offer so far is a joke.
The DPRK is dying and we should let them die. I see no strategic benefit in enabling them to further oppress their people through our economic support.
As a third step, North Korea resumes its nuclear activities, since it will then be secure against any US preemptive action.
As a fourth step, North Korea becomes a nuclear power in Asia and funds its military expansion by selling nuclear weapons to oil-rich Arab states.
As a fifth step, North Korea invades South Korea, using its nuclear weapons to keep the US and Japan at bay.
Nice plan. Where do we sign?
If Bush were of a mind to quietly pay off North Korea he would have done so, and been done with it a long time ago. Doing so publicly, after calling Kim out on the mat, would make him look weak and foolish. I work in an area that relates directly to this, although with people far more knowledgeable about Korea than I. There is no explination for Bush's position other than this: He intends to force Kim into a confrontation that will either cause him back down into total submission, flee the country, or start a war. Bush appears to view either of these three as less dangerous than allowing him to remain in power.
I wouldn't bet the farm about this being a campaign issue for 2004, either. Bush is setting the stage to destroy the regime of Kim Jong Il, and it may be coming sooner than most people expect. If Bush is reelected, there is no chance that we will avoid confrontation on his watch.
Bush does play a clever hand of 'good cop bad cop' which still tends to fool a lot of people, so don't be suprised if he unexpectedly seems to go soft for a while. Overall, I suspect that the decision for a confrontation has long since been given, and Bush is proceeding by his own schedule.
If Bush deliberately provokes NK into a confrontation, he won't have my support. Whatever we do, we shouldn't relish at the prospect of war, even if victory is guaranteed. The things you're saying go a long way to explain the virulent anti-Americanism in South Korea. It's their well-being that'll be placed on the line in a war, not ours, for despite their boasts, NK doesn't yet have the capability to nuke American cities. I'm not defending anti-American sentiment in South Korea, but if Bush exhibits the kind of "I-know-what's-good-for-you" arrogance that you're encouraging him to, all he'll do is destroy the NK regime, only to watch a newly unified Korea assert its independence in ways that please China and anger us.
A confrontation won't necessarily lead to war. Kim Jong Il could just as easily be deposed or flee to China. The point of confrontation is to make the upper echelon N Korean officials decide if they want to throw away their lives in a suicidal conflict, or if the want to try and cut a deal with us instead. If we don't push them into a confrontation, then Kim will win automatically. This isn't warmongering, it's a calculated risk that could end the war without a shot.
I don't relish the prospect of war in Korea. I'll be one of the first U.S. soldiers to hit the ground in North Korea, and I doubt I'll have any imbedded reporters volunteering to tag along. I very clearly understand what's being risked, but I don't see Bush having any other options. Soon, nuclear weapons will be produced steadily, and that will change the entire situation. Once Kim starts selling nuclear weapons on the black market, he will have enough income to stay in power indefinitely.
Not only would it be a proliferation nightmare, but the DPRK could afford to upgrade their conventional forces, as well as stabilize their economy. They'd have plenty of money to perfect their long range ballistic missiles. This is a situation that must be avoided at all costs.
Actually, there seems to be a good deal of shared hatred for Japan on the Korean penninsula. I could see Osaka, Kobe, Tokyo, and Sapporo -- one by one going up in radioactive smoke before 10,000 artillery shells rain down on Seoul, doing little to disable the South Korean and American military machine.
Scenario: we don't know which peak or canyon in North Korea has nukes. North Korea could demonstrate its ability to torch Japanese cities at will -- using one city at a time -- starting with Osaka, for eexample; with the first strike, they simultaneously announce to Washington that they demand a full American withdrawl from Korea. They also point out that their ICBMs are aimed at Seattle, LA, and SF. After a pause, the next Japanese city goes up in flames, and America capitulates.
The only hope we have against this scenario is our fledgling anti-missile system, our ability to return overwhelming fire, and our willingness to strike.
If there is any proof that North Korea hasn't fully armed yet, I think we should be willing to strike first to avoid this scenario.
Clinton sold our South Korean and Japanese friends down the river all to please his electorate. He may have even sold a west coast city or two, as well.
You couldn't be more wrong. Kim went into hiding for a couple months because he feared the US was going to try to take him out. He's dealing from a position of weakness and practically begging the US to bail is diminutive butt out of crisis.
In case you haven't kept up on the news, there have been thousands of defectors from NK and many of them have given their accounts of just how bad conditions are in NK. Other than the personnel from the the regime (the military), the rest of the populous hate the little twerp. Its only a matter of time until NK implodes from within.
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