Posted on 09/06/2017 6:16:56 AM PDT by Jagermonster
It can be all too easy to see North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, as a nuclear-armed nuisance desperate for attention. But as is often the case with the belligerent young man, analysts say, there is a perverse logic to his carefully timed provocations aimed at China and the United States, including this week’s nuclear test – the country’s sixth, and by far its most powerful. In October, at the Chinese Communist Party’s once-every-five-years leadership conference, President Xi Jinping is likely to further consolidate his power. In the run-up, however, projecting an aura of stability is key. “North Korea knows that before the congress there is a window of opportunity to press China, because it’s hard for Xi to maneuver at this time,” one researcher says. Mr. Kim may be calculating that China is unlikely to push North Korea much harder than it already has to give up its nuclear program – at least not until after October – and doing everything he can to stoke tensions between China and the US before Beijing considers harsher options. Yet international pressure is mounting on China to do more, and the calls aren’t just coming from the Trump administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Article discusses how North Korea is trying to manipulate China into pressuring the U.S. to "force the US into talks that would leave [Kim] with nuclear weapons and ultimately lead to the lifting of economic sanctions on his country."
For China, "a nuclear-armed North Korea is less dangerous to China than the possibility of destabilizing the country through severe tactics . . . The collapse of North Korea would likely lead to a refugee crisis on China’s doorstep and the reunification of the Korean Peninsula under the American security umbrella, two highly undesirable outcomes for China."
I remember when the MSM used to criticize the United States for “nuclear saber-rattling.” It was a very, very bad thing back during the Reagan Administration.
Oh, and missile defense was also a very, very bad thing back then, too. Actually, it was supposedly impossible, but just thinking about it was very, very bad.
Kim Jong-Un is the equivalent of the crazy nephew a mafia boss (i.e.China) keeps around to do the hits that would cause too much trouble if the main organization attempted them The fact is that without the help of China and several other nations North Korea wouldn’t be able to build a working car, much less a miniaturized hydrogen bomb.
China gets to pretend that it’s trying to intervene with this “insane dictator”, while the US presence in Guam is destroyed, to the great tactical advantage of China. I have no doubt that after Kim Jong-un does this China will indeed take him out, same as in any good Mafia flick.
The threat of an uncontrollable humanitarian crisis has prevented SK and China from doing the right thing and deposing the little tyrant. Problem is there already is a humanitarian crisis that can only improve by either SK or China taking on some responsibility by feeding starving NORKS.The lack of imagination and basic human decency is appalling.
Kim thinks the World will back down and hand him everything he wants and I think he’s right
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