|
S.Korea hates being a Small Fry
South Korea is reluctant to have North Koreaâs nuclear challenge dealt with at the UN Security Council, because it will not only mean a prolonged standoff but also reduce its say in resolving a looming crisis, government officials say.``If the UNSC stepped in, it would mean the situation will drag on,ââ one government official said. ``That scenario runs counter to our wish to see the Northâs nuclear program resolved peacefully and as soon as possible.ââ Another official said the involvement of UNSCâs five permanent members _ the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain _ would likely leave little room for Seoul to influence the handling of Pyongyangâs nuclear program. An internal memo by the South Korean Foreign Ministry, however, expected the Northâs nuclear challenge would be forwarded for deliberation at the UNSC by the end of January. We dont care if S.Korea gets nuked, were more worried about who the North is going to sell these materials to. UNSC is empowered to take a wide range of actions, from the issuance of a resolution to placing trade embargos and authorizing military action. Seoul is worried it will be shut out from the process of handling the North Korean situation. On Thursday, President Kim Dae-jung said Seoul should take a leading role in the peaceful resolution of the issue, a message government officials say is intended both for Pyongyang, which only looks to the U.S. for dialogue, and for the Bush administration, which insists on its policy of isolating the North. ``We will never make the same mistake of paying billions of dollars for a deal we didnât participate in,ââ Kim was quoted as saying during a function Monday, referring to the 1994 agreement Pyongyang and Washington struck to defuse a nuclear crisis. Under the 1994 Geneva Agreed Framework, the government is obliged to pay more than $3 billion, about 70 percent of the cost of building two light-water reactors for the North, in exchange for its promise to freeze its uranium-based nuclear program. But you have made the same mistake time after time, by promoting progams such as your goofy Sunshine Policy. Posted by: Richard 2002-12-28 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=8869 |