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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| South Korea disowns US-Japan sanctions on North |
| 2006-09-16 |
| JAPAN and the US will ratchet up sanctions pressure on North Korea next week but South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has refused to endorse the campaign. After a meeting at the White House with President George W.Bush yesterday, Mr Roh expressed "concern in Korea that the US will take further sanctions against North Korea and whether this will jeopardise the chance of a successful six-party process". Despite Mr Roh's objections, Japan is poised to impose financial sanctions next week aimed at hurting the high echelons of Kim Jong-il's regime. Japan will follow Washington in freezing assets and bank accounts of 12 North Korean or Pyongyang-aligned business groups and an unnamed individual. Officials said other interested governments, including South Korea's and Australia's, would be consulted. It was unclear yesterday whether Tokyo, which has already severely restricted travel and commerce, would extend sanctions to other businesses operated in Japan by pro-Pyongyang Korean residents. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #16 lotp and Nimble have it right, I think: there is an on-going need to contain China, and withdrawing from Korea would be interpreted by many in Asia as a loss of face. It would also be a loss of face for the SKors, and that alone could destablize the region further. I think we're committed to the SKors for the forseeable future, but that doesn't mean we have to be patsies about it. The recent 'realignment' could continue, as we transition our presence from one of a division of ground forces to a mostly air/naval presence, plus an army brigade that rotates through. That would give us more freedom, send a subtle reminder to the SKors, and yet not be seen as a slap in the face elsewhere. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-09-16 12:51 |
| #15 They don't need to do it on a sustained basis to bring down the Tainwanese government, I think. I do know that US military planners consider China to be a near-peer already in many ways. And they are ramping up capabilities FAST. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-09-16 12:30 |
| #14 They will be able to do so in a couple years IMO.<.em> Have they done any exercises that indicate they could do so on a sustained basis? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-16 12:22 |
| #13 True 'nuff. China can't invade Taiwan let alone what is arguably the third greatest military power on Earth They will be able to do so in a couple years IMO. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-09-16 12:01 |
| #12 It's gotten to the point where I need to be reminded again why we need to worry about the 70 million Koreans on top of the 1.2 billion the Chinese already have. And as for the dagger pointed at Japan, get real. China can't invade Taiwan let alone what is arguably the third greatest military power on Earth. And if the Japanese and Koreans are really that concerned, perhaps they should let the Japanese come over and start to pick up a share of the load. Heh. No, I think the main reason we're stuck with those ingrates is that we can't afford to be seen by the rest of Asia as retreating. But I'd rather let the rich Chinese clean up Kimmie's mess. They created it. I'd love to leave the Koreans to the Chinese. They deserve eachother. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-16 11:52 |
| #11 As for troops, I don't know why we have any there at all. Same reason as the original presence -- to help contain China. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-09-16 11:31 |
| #10 I think that the US should phase out of SKor. If Mr. Roh wants to go the appeasement route, then the public will see a steady decline in the US presence and implications of that will be seen. The public will then have a chance to throw out Roh and get some sense. If they do not do anything, then they are with Roh and will suffer the consequences. There must be serious consequences for appeasement with the enemy, like the whole economy. But if the appeasement route is their route, then toodle-loo. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-09-16 11:22 |
| #9 I think we are pretty carefull not to give SKOR anything of value to the Norks. We have known for a long time that it was the same as handing it directly to Kimmie. As for troops, I don't know why we have any there at all. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-09-16 10:09 |
| #8 Pull out the troops. |
| Posted by: newc 2006-09-16 10:00 |
| #7 It's a protection racket, and the SKors don't have a lot of good bargaining chips. In a conflict, there is little question but their society will be utterly destroyed. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-09-16 09:18 |
| #6 ..I spent a year in Korea, and fell in love with it, but this is way too much. Tell the SoKors that unless they publicly endorse the sanctions, we're done. Oh, and there will be a 50% tariff on ALL SoKor autos and electronics brought into this country, not to mention any products they make for others...like Nike...Reebok...that sorta thing. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-09-16 08:02 |
| #5 Samsung, Lucky Goldstar, and Hyundai will not be pleased if Roh trades the US market for the NorK market. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-09-16 05:18 |
| #4 The South Koreans want to unify at any cost it seems. Total dipsticks. Cut them lose and let them do it on their own time and dime. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-09-16 02:33 |
| #3 Yep, throw the SoKos off the bus |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-09-16 00:09 |
| #2 And cancel any trade agreements. Stop sending any high tech knowledge (since they will only give it to the north after 'reunification'...) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-09-16 00:08 |
| #1 withdraw our troops |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-09-16 00:03 |