Dictatorial, Communist and closed up, that is how the US media habitually describes North Korea. But, it seems to be the only nation in Asia with gumption. It continues to have large enriched-uranium resources, ready for nuclear warfare. Yet ironically, the US is eager to woo North Korea. Full diplomatic channels are expected to open after the US envoy; Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill visits the North Korean nuclear complex at Yongbyon next week.
The Christian Science Monitor expects America to work out a face-saving plan before the high-level meeting. The US is a major advocate of non-nuclear proliferation policies. So North Korea’s reluctance in giving up its nuclear arsenal is proving to be touchy for President Bush. In fact, North Korea maintains that it has no nuclear program at all. Key US ally, Pakistan maintains that disgraced scientist A.Q. Khan has supplied the know-how and activated aluminium tubes to North Korea.
This nuclear armament issue needs to be contextualized. The North Korean defence minister has met his Southern counterpart in Pyongyang. They have emphasized more inter-Korean cooperation, though they could not reach an agreement over the sailing rights of North Korean fishing trawls. This last news is alarming. Historically, North Korea has proved to be a strong military force.
As its Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, south of which North Korean fishing boats cannot sail, has not been extended, North Korea may contemplate aggressive reworking of boundaries. This opens up channels for use of nuclear force. The US will be left red-faced if it does not proceed immediately to calm the situation there. Also US and North Korean ideologies are at stake. South Korea is a known ideological ally of the US.
So any South Korean decision has to be seen as a reflection of US policy. The US is using the defence ministerial talks between the two Koreas to get its own message across. The denial of fishing rights is a basically a US snub to North Korea.
On the other hand, we need to appreciate North Korea’s resistance to a super-power. It is indeed strange that the US will herself not disarm or stop nuclear testing or sign any treaty for destroying its own weapons. Yet it expects all nations except Israel and a few others to unconditionally disarm. This is neo-colonialism at its best. Vietnam had once broken the backbone of America.
And it may take another Communist regime to make President Bush come to his senses. The US cannot prove North Korea’s nuclear capabilities unless they have visual and tangible proof. Only physical inspection can prove it. North Korea will not allow the US to roam freely there. The US can only go to war to just enter North Korea or has to be content with making quieter diplomatic moves.
Via: Christian Science Monitor
Image: Military Pictures
