http://www.worldmeets.us/images/kim-jong-un-ballot_pic.png

Kim Jong-un shows a legislative ballot at a session of the

Supreme People's Assembly, North Korea's rubber-stamp

parliament, last year. Columnist Peter Sturm suspects the

appointment of a new minister to push development could

be behind Pyongyang's recent bellicosity.

 

 

Does New Development Minister Explain North Korea's Verbal Barrage? (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany)

 

"Last weekend's session of the Central Committee of the Korean Worker's Party may offer one explanation. ... There was a lot of talk of developing the economy. To this end, a new minister was appointed who will be simultaneously rewarded with a seat on the Politburo. So assuming that the military sees this as a threat to its hitherto unchallenged leadership, the war rhetoric might make some sense."

 

By Peter Sturm

                       http://worldmeets.us/images/Peter-Sturm_mug.png

 

Translated By Stephanie Martin

 

April 3, 2013

 

Germany - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Original Article (German)

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, after threatening the United States with a pre-emptive nuclear attack - and passing on a new minister for economic development, Apr. 1.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Inside North Korea: 'It's a mad, sad and bad place', April 2, 00:04:27RealVideo

There has been no shortage of martial pronouncements from and about Korea during the past few days. But they all share an important caveat: The North blusters: "If" America should dare start a war, North Korea would transform the southern part of the country, American military bases in the Pacific, and the U.S. mainland, into a sea of fire. "If" there is any provocation from North Korea, then political consideration, the South will respond militarily, says the South Korean president. And "if" North Korea desires war, Washington indicates that America will be ready with a response.

 

Whatever one thinks about the use of such remarks from South Korea and America, they make an escalation of the conflict conditional on the other side firing the first shot. This is actually a reassuring assessment, as South Korea is also reporting that large-scale North Korean troop movements have not been observed.

 

Strong U.S. involvement

 

On the other hand, it is remarkable how committed the United States is to this conflict. South Korea appears outwardly unconcerned. But Washington seems to feel a need to support its ally with demonstrative acts like the deployment of stealth bombers to the region. This is a logical response in view of the North’s verbal radicalism. Pyongyang must grasp clearly what it's getting if it starts a war. On the other hand, many wars have broken out, although everyone claims later not to have wanted them.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

The question remains, what may have moved North Korea to begin and fuel this conflict with ever-more exaggerated statements? Last weekend's session of the Central Committee of the Korean Worker's Party may offer one explanation. Delegates adopted a program that doesn’t read like an immediate preparation for war. There was a lot of talk of developing the economy. To this end, a new minister was appointed who will be simultaneously rewarded with a seat on the Politburo, giving him quite a lot of power within the system. So assuming that the military sees this as a threat to its hitherto unchallenged leadership, the war rhetoric might make some sense. But only if we make that assumption. 

 

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SEE ALSO ON THIS:  

Polityka, Poland: Brought to a Rapid Boil: North Korea Threatens Attack on America    

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'Master and Stooge' Conspire to Trigger Second Korean War    

Korea Central News, North Korea: Armistice is 'Dead Letter'; 'Provocateurs' Will Face Retaliatory Strike  

Daily North Korea, South Korea: Average North Korean 'Shocked' at Rodman's Appearance  

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Kim Jong-un Praises Dennis Rodman and American Delegation  

Huanqui, China: Beijing Must Punish Pyongyang, But Never Join Anti-North Alliance  

Daily North Korea, South Korea: U.S., South Korea to Incite Unrest in North Korea
Korea Central News, North Korea: Security Council Must Apologize for Being 'U.S. Marionette'
Korea Times, South Korea: Seoul Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Test
The Hankyoreh, South Korea: North Korea May be Developing Hydrogen Bomb
Korea Herald, South Korea: North Korea Device 'Weaker than Feared'
Korea Herald, South Korea: Seoul Citizens Express Concern Over Nuke Test
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: ‘Unimaginable Punishment’ if Satellite Intercepted
Korea Central News, North Korea: Obama ‘Misperceives Peaceful’ Satellite Launch
China Daily, China: Obama Makes North Korean Rocket Launch More Likely
Mainichi Shimbun, Japan: Nuclear-Armed Japan is Not Out of the Question
The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Nuclear Summit Must Resist ‘Nuclear Power Mafia’
Yonhap, South Korea: Obama Warns North Launch will Bring Greater Isolation
News, Switzerland: Obama's Best Option for Koreas: Send Envoy to Pyongyang
News, Switzerland: Pyongyang Makes a Play for Direct Ties with Americans
Opera Mundi, Brazil: Can America Secure a North Korean Nuclear 'Reversal'?
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Imperialist Sanctions 'Should Be Smashed'
Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia: 'Russia's Place in a Changing World,' By Vladimir Putin

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'U.S. Warmongers' Foolish to Hope to Change North

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: Why the Kim Jong-un Regime is 'Doomed'

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: U.S.,China Must Resist Urge to Meddle after Kim's Death

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany: Secret of America's Counterfeit 'Supernotes'

Korean Central, North Korea: The U.S. 'Should Be Cursed' By All Koreans

Korean Central, North Korea: 'Japanese Militarists' Prepare for Reinvasion of Korea

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Apr. 3, 2013, 10:19pm

 

 

 







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