North Korea, US "re-engage"

[chenGOD]

"In agreeing at last on a formula for talks on their nuclear weapons dispute, the United States and North Korea both gave in to their rival’s demands, allowing each to claim a small initial victory in a process that traditionally yields few. For the U.S., ensuring that other regional powers would be at the table provides a kind of insurance policy against North Korean duplicity. North Korea, meanwhile, is as close as it ever has been to winning a pledge of non-aggression from the U.S., a key demand of North Korean regime since the Korean War truce was signed 50 years ago."-snip


more: http://www.msnbc.com/news/947011.asp?0cv=NB10&cp1=1

and the extensive NY times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/01/international/asia/01CND-KOREA.html?ex=1060401600&en=4aee65dbc666c02c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE


Crosses fingers that the links don't break.



Steps, hopefully.

[chenGOD]

1. From the last paragraph of the NYtimes

"Kim Jong Il seems to care more about enriching uranium than enriching his own people," Mr. Bolton said. "While he lives like royalty in Pyongyang, he keeps hundreds of thousands of his people locked in prison camps with millions more mired in abject poverty, scrounging the ground for food. For many in North Korea, life is a hellish nightmare.""


Now let's see:
"President BUsh seems to care more about enriching big business than enriching his own people," chenGOD said. "While he lives like royalty in Crawford, he keeps hundreds of thousands of his people locked in prisons with millions more mired in abject poverty, scrounging the streets for food. For many in America, life is a hellish nightmare."


:shrug:

[Wonder]

3. I understand this is horrific and certainly true BUT

is there concensus on how many REALLY BELIEVE bush gives a shit about starving Southeast Asians...

seems another set up for us to all rally behind a potential PNAC effort to "liberate" them.

[chenGOD]

4. Ummmm...

North Korea isn't in southeast asia.

This isn't really a big deal, but interesting that North Korea would capitulate on their demands for bi-lateral talks. There's gotta be a good reason, but I don't know what it is.

[Wonder]

5. hahahahahah!

well I am not sure whether or not is a big deal... I guess that would depend on who might be out to get me... let me rephrase

"I understand this is horrific and certainly true BUT

is there concensus on how many REALLY BELIEVE bush gives a shit about starving N.Koreans...

seems another set up for us to all rally behind a potential PNAC effort to "liberate" them.

-----

And I am not sure what caused the capitulation either... requires followup...

thanks for the minor correction... :thumbsup:

[teryang]

6. Actually, Kim's main interest was nuclear power

...for economic development reasons. They have ample supplies of uranium. That is why they were developing nuclear energy, to solve their energy crisis, which has compounded the damages of a series of natural diasters since 1994. They were induced to give up their nuclear energy program because of concerns about proliferation by the US. They were supposed to be furnished alternative nuclear reactors which the North would have to pay for. By October 2002 it was quite apparent that the * regime had no intent of delivering on their promises, they cut off the fuel oil as well, and then began "tightening the noose" by cutting off humanitarian food aid and threatening blockade.

If people in the north are miserable, our junta is partially responsible. In comparison to this crisis generated by the US breach of the Agreed Framework, I am reminded of my visit to Taiwan, where the largest energy source in the country, a huge hydoelectric dam, was built for them as a gift of the American people in the 50s. The significance of such energy sources to underdeveloped nations cannot be overestimated. The timely availibility of this gift made Taiwan's economic success possible.

In contrast the N.Koreans to their detriment relied on American promises to provide nuclear technology and fuel sources to offset the loss of their old style reactor technology. The discussion of weapons technology is somewhat collateral to the main issue, which is the breach of the US N.Korea agreement itself and the impact that that agreement and its breach has had on the already poor N.Korean economic situtation.

[saigon68]

8. "scrounging the streets for food"

I have seen people doing this, they are also mentally ill. I doubt the country club set gives a flying whatever about them. The CHIMPANZEE should invite a few over for dinner.

[Wonder]

2. I didn't know they had engaged to begin with

seemed most prior reports indicated that bush had refused diplomacy and was boycotting talks altogether.

[Muddleoftheroad]

7. No

For all of the numerous faults, the * gang were simply requiring multilateral talks including nations in the region. I think that is correct.