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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Best of the Web: Kimmie backs down |
| 2006-10-20 |
| by James Taranto, Wall Street Journal "North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed regret about his country's nuclear test to a Chinese delegation," the Associated Press reports: "If the U.S. makes a concession to some degree, we will also make a concession to some degree, whether it be bilateral talks or six-party talks," Kim was quoted as telling a Chinese envoy, the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported, citing a diplomatic source in China. Blogger "China Hand" theorizes that "North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear antics are an effort to demand attention, respect, and assistance from the PRC," the People's Republic of China: North Korea's weapons programs are meant to discommode China with the threat of a Asian arms race and the specter of Japan becoming a pro-active regional security force with US backing, and remind Beijing of the necessity of advancing North Korea's interests on the world stage--in this particular case, getting China to support lifting some onerous U.S. financial sanctions. Interesting theory. If true, Kim must be feeling awfully ronery, and this would explain Kim's abjection before Beijing. Hand also argues that China has become increasingly friendly with South Korea: "In Beijing's plans for a prosperous, pro-Chinese Korean peninsula, cooperation with the South Korean powerhouse looms large." China is now South Korea's biggest trading partner, and anti-American sentiment has been growing in the south. Not so sure I buy into that part; though it would explain a lot about how the SKors are acting. "What I believe China wants is a North Korean regime that is profoundly isolated, helpless, and totally reliant on Chinese good offices to survive," Hand adds. "By this reading, the United States could profit from the estrangement between China and North Korea by embarking on a swift rapprochement with Pyongyang. Not sure that is possible. How do you rapproach with a psychotic tyrrany that starves its own citizens, unless you're Henry Kissinger or some other "realist"? Instead, we are doing everything within our power to force North Korea under China's heel and, in the process, perpetuate the existence of the same failed North Korean system--and regime--that we have sworn to destroy." |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #6 Fellow 'Burgers and normal peoples everywhere. Fear sie not. Just today was I wonder about this problem. I have read the broches and I see a dance, small, but with a fine band. Ja! Disco of the Nations Baby! Tallyrand eat mein dust froggy has been. |
| Posted by: H Kissingbug 2006-10-20 18:33 |
| #5 Until something a whole lot more substantive and momentous occurs, this vignette is filed under; Strictly For Public Consumption |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-20 17:29 |
| #4 Instead, we are doing everything within our power to force North Korea under China's heel and, in the process, perpetuate the existence of the same failed North Korean system--and regime--that we have sworn to destroy." Huh? What? When did we (ie the USA) swear to destroy the NorK system and regime? Did I miss somethin'? |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-10-20 17:24 |
| #3 "North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed regret about his country's nuclear test to a Chinese delegation," Stalinists are known to lie, but do they also lie to their own? I'll watch what Li'l Kim does rather than trust anything that he says. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-10-20 16:45 |
| #2 Instead, we are doing everything within our power to force North Korea under China's heel and, in the process, perpetuate the existence of the same failed North Korean system--and regime--that we have sworn to destroy Every silver lining has a cloud© |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-10-20 16:32 |
| #1 Kim's apology is all Bush's fault..uh..wait a minute... nevermind |
| Posted by: mhw 2006-10-20 15:56 |