Article

2008-01-09 China-Japan-Koreas

'China planning to secure North Korea's N-arsenal'

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Posted by Fred 2008-01-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 Chinas strong preference is to receive formal authorization and coordinate closely with the UN in such an endeavor,

Of course. Nobody would get overly excited if it is don after the fact. UN wheels are not the fastest on the block.

Posted by twobyfour 2008-01-09 00:16|| 2008-01-09 00:16|| Front Page Top

#2 I say we pre-authorize it.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2008-01-09 00:25|| 2008-01-09 00:25|| Front Page Top

#3 Careful where you spend that blank check.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2008-01-09 00:30|| 2008-01-09 00:30|| Front Page Top

#4 TOPIX > MK NEWS - SOUTH KOREA may consider delaying by two or more addit years formal tranfer in 2012 of WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL of milfors from the USA back to SOUTH KOREA iff NORTH KOREA FAILS TO LIVE UP TO ITS NUCLEAR ABANDONMENT PLEDGES/OBLIGATIONS.

Also, MVARIETY > GUAM > Contin USA-JAPAN controversies over a replacement MCAS for FUTENMA, etc. MAY DELAY THE TRANSFER OF 8000 MARINES + DEPENDENTS TO GUAM.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-09 01:23|| 2008-01-09 01:23|| Front Page Top

#5 ION, is it again being inferred = subtly premised/admitted that NORTH KOREA actually has nuke weapons???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-09 01:41|| 2008-01-09 01:41|| Front Page Top

#6 Joe, not necessarily weapons per se. Itsa mostly fissible material that is of concern.

Posted by twobyfour 2008-01-09 02:31|| 2008-01-09 02:31|| Front Page Top

#7 Haha, the Chinese would never do that. If they're saying they're contemplating it, then it's only to gain some advantage.

Posted by gromky 2008-01-09 04:42|| 2008-01-09 04:42|| Front Page Top

#8 Not so sure. The Chinese probably have some concerns about it and the weapons program falling into the hands of the South Koreans when the Norks collapse and the Korean brothers are reunited. South Korea will want them to guarantee their independence. I sense that the Chinese think the Koreans are just a little too loose in the socket. I sure do.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-01-09 08:15|| 2008-01-09 08:15|| Front Page Top

#9 And the People's Army needs an exercise.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-01-09 08:35|| 2008-01-09 08:35|| Front Page Top

#10 When the North collapses, I'd assume there will be several factions in the army. A losing faction, with a bomb or two in custody (even if they don't have one now, they could later), might use the threat to extort support. Maybe they'd try extorting the South, or maybe someplace else nearby. China should be worried.

Posted by James">James 2008-01-09 08:40|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com]">[http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2008-01-09 08:40|| Front Page Top

#11 I still hold that the US and China could reach an agreement of sorts, that would be a win-win, but with China making a huge profit.

That is, China takes over Nork briefly, on the understanding with the US and the South that it is there to grab the nuclear materials, *not* in any way to menace the South. Then it sets up a puppet government with a very set purpose, and leaves.

The puppet government's job is two-fold: to open the country up to any and all international aid, so that food can enter Nork, and to begin immediate negotiations for reunification ASAP while maintaining minimal order.

The first benefit to China is that it not only stops Korean illegal immigration, but even causes a backflow of Koreans leaving China to go home.

The second benefit to China is that, by playing Mr. Nice Guy, Korea becomes its best friend in the whole world. A wealthy best friend who wants many billions of dollars of trade with China. This would be an economic boon to all of northeast China. Korea already does things "the Chinese way", so there will be minimal cultural friction.

The third benefit is that the US would no longer have much need at all to keep ground forces in Korea. We could pull back, and maybe keep an agreement for a naval base in Pusan.

A de-nuclearized Korea, friendly with China and the US, makes everybody happy.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-09 09:00|| 2008-01-09 09:00|| Front Page Top

#12 China seldom leaves anywhere it has established control. Not easily or quickly at any rate.

Posted by lotp 2008-01-09 09:07|| 2008-01-09 09:07|| Front Page Top

#13 A de-nuclearized Korea, friendly with China and the US, makes everybody happy.

Except the Koreans.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-01-09 10:16|| 2008-01-09 10:16|| Front Page Top

#14 They might as well go for Pakistan while they're at it. It's only right they should assume responsibility for the messes they've helped to make.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-01-09 12:11|| 2008-01-09 12:11|| Front Page Top

#15 Only problem is they probably still see Pakistan as being useful for harassment of India.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-01-09 12:12|| 2008-01-09 12:12|| Front Page Top

#16 I agree with your plan Moose. It's not like a nork has any say in his life. The Chinese would be freeing them.

I hope we have as detailed a plan for capturing Pakistan's if necessary.

Posted by Penguin 2008-01-09 13:18|| 2008-01-09 13:18|| Front Page Top

#17 China wants the Nukes?
Did they ever get their trains back?

Load the nukes on their trains, make it a two-fer.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-01-09 14:35|| 2008-01-09 14:35|| Front Page Top

#18 Also, to add onto Moose's point. China entered the Korean war because it didn't want a western democracy on its southern border. It would be like the Soviet Union taking over Mexico and the US dealing with a communist state right over the Rio Grand.

However, South Korea has become increasingly anti-US in the past few years and the younger generation are forgetting the Chinese aggression and atrocities of one hundred years ago. China might fully be willing to have a friendly democracy and anti-American democracy on its border now.
It makes sense in a geo-political view.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-01-09 15:23|| 2008-01-09 15:23|| Front Page Top

#19 It would be like the Soviet Union taking over Mexico and the US dealing with a communist state right over the Rio Grand.

Could be a good thing---to recollect, Soviet Union was most reluctant to let any of their people go.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-01-09 18:51|| 2008-01-09 18:51|| Front Page Top

#20 If you look at it from a Chinese perspective, then it can be pretty simple: They do not want a refugee crisis to mess that part of China up - and pushing refugees of on the SKors keeps them to busy and will disrupt the hell out of the SKor economy probably for a decade (look at E Germany's absorption into Germany and the negative impact that had even though it was peaceful).

"Securing the Nork nukes" gives China a "white hate" in the international press. And its serves as a very good pretext for locking their border with the Norks HARD, and taking back some collateral that they may believe they are owed. And it also gives the Chinese military a chance to test some tactics in a live environment.

So "securing the nukes" is a win-win for the Chinese for a lot of reasons.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-09 19:19|| 2008-01-09 19:19|| Front Page Top

#21 typo - "white HAT"

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-09 19:23|| 2008-01-09 19:23|| Front Page Top

#22 Big inter-Poster brouhaha = debate goin' on over this at CHINESE MILITARY FORUM.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-09 19:47|| 2008-01-09 19:47|| Front Page Top

#23 like the Soviet Union taking over Mexico and the US dealing with a communist state right over the Rio Grand.

Bet then there'd be no hassle over a "Border fence", or "Shoot to kill" orders. Hmmm?

Posted by Redneck Jim 2008-01-09 19:51|| 2008-01-09 19:51|| Front Page Top

#24 Redneck Jim, IM sure the peopel at state woulndt care if Mexico went Communits, and they woudl still pitch a hissy fit if we were to secure the border even in that circumstance.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-09 21:00|| 2008-01-09 21:00|| Front Page Top

#25 ION, COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG > ANSAR AL-ISLAM INSURGENTS THREATEN NORWAY.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-09 22:26|| 2008-01-09 22:26|| Front Page Top

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