So as almost everyone knows by now, North Korea test-fired its Taepodong-2 missile (along with several others of different types (some sources claim they were all ICBMs). As I was busy dealing with immigration and registration issues (don’t ask . . . ), I wasn’t around for the updates.
For the benefit of my family back home (and anyone here who just crawled out from under a a rock), here’s my Thursday morning recap of the best of the Korean blogosphere response.
Oranckay has, as usual, a great overview of the events and possible South Korean reaction. (As well as the best post title. Wish I’d thought of that.)
RazorNylon adds his two cents accompanied by some neat graphics.
For those of us not up on the latest in military/scientist/foreign policy euphemism, Asiapundit clarifies that missile “failure” means the thing exploded 40 seconds after liftoff, making the missile more of a threat to North Korea itself than any of its neighbors.
The Marmot posts a roundup of news reports and analysis, from the usual (and some unusual) sources. South Korea is considering suspension of rice and fertilizer shipments, but is otherwise treading cautiously. And, China has deep-sixed a UN Security Council resolution calling for sanctions.
So, what’s new in your world?
{ 6 comments }
Jo Todd 07.06.06 at 1:13 pm
Nothing has worked to date here, or elsewhere, so here is a math-major’s opinion:
North Korea seems to gain status by putting down the US, and seems to have gained some by firing off these missles, even though they were not completely successful. They have to fire again to prove that they actually have something that we need to fear. There is nothing the US can do since China is backing NK and we know we can’t beat that combination (hence the DMZ).
Suppose the world were to assume that NK fires missles because it’s people are so terribly hungry that it must attract attention elsewhere, and therefore begin huge shipments of food and basics. Instead of cutting off rice and fertilizer, send more, and now. Begin a world-wide campaign to help the starving Koreans, similar to the help sent following the tsunami.
Two things would be accomplished. The people would get food, and not from their own government, but from outsiders. And the NK government would lose face. It would also be much less expensive than a war, and probably have better results. Sort of like the Marshall Plan following WWII instead of the punishment following WWI which is seen as a major force for causing WWII in the first place. Remember how you have to treat a cat that pees in your shoes. Punishment makes it pee more.
San Nakji 07.06.06 at 2:42 pm
Interesting idea there Jo. Cutting off rice to NK will do nothing to attack the problem people. It will only cause more suffering to the populace who have no say in what their wacky government get up to! This is really a difficult problem. Not sure what can be done. I think that engaging NK is probably the best course of action, isolationism is a bad idea.
Rose Byrd 07.07.06 at 3:10 am
The common thread between you both, Jo and Nakji, is continued engagement of some type with NK. Make that three of us agreeing here. An extremely interesting venue, in St. Petersburg, for the next G-8 conference, has some possibility of putting a kink, if not an actual knot, in the tail of the Chinese tiger (read: Chinese banks, read: Hong Kong banks). Remember what Putin used to do for a living? Anyway, one can hope. And Nakji is absolutely correct: on the NK organized criminals and politicians get the extra rice, etc. At any rate, continued engagement, everybody.
JiMong 07.07.06 at 4:39 am
This is just another case of North Korea’s typical brinksmanship foreign policy. North Korea is playing this game to get the maximum benefit they can, hoping for economic advantages or more.
But, Why China and Russia don’t give damn 2cents about North Korea’s missile launches even Capital of China and wide part of Russia fall under NK missile range? Why they don’t care or don’t taking it seriously, Like Japan or cnn? Because, they know it is just part of game that North Korea played so long whenever they want to get something. Usually, North Korea will gain what they want but I don’t know this time that they just fallen to bottom in international status. I think US is also getting tired about NK. And US is already damn tired because of Iraq.
What I really worry is reaction of Japan. If North Korea continues to test missile launches or develop nuclear weapons, Japan has no choice but to follow suite. And she is better equipped to do that quicker than North Korea. North Korean attempts is just fueling on Arm race fire in the region.
I also feel really sad that millions of ordinary people in North are the one who directly suffer from it and any economic sanctions from outside. Because of this reason I am with San Nakji opinion.
Rose Byrd 07.07.06 at 4:45 am
So good to see another agreement with San Nakji position of continued engagement. The suffering millions in NK have long been the subject of daily prayers in faith communities of every description.
Cat 07.07.06 at 7:51 am
I like the idea of a humanitarian intervention, but so far the North Korean government (really, its dictator) has kept a stranglehold on what gets to the people.
From what I understand, Kim Jong Il also effectively controls their reaction. Possession of contraband is severely punished. Even if outsiders were to airlift or smuggle in food, I don’t know how effective that would be.
So, I think pretty much any aid goes through him, and he tells people whatever suits him. It is amazing the effectiveness with which he has controlled information coming in from the outside world, as well.
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