South Korea’s president ordered his top security officials Sunday to deal “resolutely and squarely” with new North Korean warnings of a nuclear war on the eve of his U.S. visit. In Washington, Vice President Joe Biden said “God only knows” what North Korea wants from the latest showdown.
President Lee Myung-bak travels to Washington on Monday for talks with President Barack Obama that are expected to focus on the North’s rogue nuclear and missile programs.
The trip comes after North Korea’s Foreign Ministry threatened war with any country that stops its ships on the high seas under new sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council in response to its May 25 nuclear test.
Kim Jong Il risks his country becoming a land of glass valleys if he makes good on his threat, but personally, I think this is all bluster designed to wring concessions out of the West.
#1. Cennydd,
Nuclear war pretty much rules out the “surgical strike” option. Kim Jong II reminds me of the late Saddam Hussien. I personally believe the U.S. will never use the nuclear option unless…..well, let’s hope it never happens.
He is very disturbed and dangerous. His people are required to pray to him. Such a man is evil and that sort of evil isn’t rational. The best defense against him is prayer.
One part of me says … the man is old, ill, and cares little about his country … while desparately seeking attention … so anything is possible.
The other part of me says … the menace du jour … errr … I mean soup du jour.
I would hazard a guess, that to answer our Vice President’s rhetorical question (“God only knows what he [Kim] wants,”) one only needs to look back at recent history to all the other occasions of saber-rattling by N. Korea. If history is any guide, Kim Jong Il is acting like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store, demanding to get his way.
Unfortunately, he’s a toddler who’s psychopathic and has nukes. And, if past results give any indication, his current tantrum will be met by stern words from the West, and then more partial reinforcement of antisocial behavior.
I’d love to know just what North Korea would really do if their ships were subject to boarding and search for ballistic missile contraband, etc., by a multinational naval blockade. Getting the Chinese to enforce meaningful restrictions on, say, fuel oil to this rogue state wouldn’t hurt, either.
I am tird of the world talking about it. Either do something or don’t, but quit talking and wringing your hands over it. Waiting for the UN to act is an exercise in utter futility, much like waiting for the AC to discipline TEC.
Personally, I think it’s time to call Kim’s bluff by stopping and boarding North Korean shipping.
I don’t think he’ll do a thing about it, except to threaten with empty threats.