[The Australian, Australia]
Le Figaro, France
Kim Jong-il: Keeping it All in the Family and Tweaking Obama
"Will Barack Obama meet
this test with more success than his predecessor, George W. Bush? The entire
world is watching and waiting for the answer. The White House, already
confronted with a host of intractable issues, would be perfectly happy to not
have to deal with this extra puzzle."
EDITORIAL Pierre Rousselin
Translated
By Elise Nussbaum
May
29, 2009
France - Le Figaro - Original Article
(French)
A
past master of provocation, the Stalinist regime of North Korea is pursuing the
same strategy. To guarantee its survival, it is slowly but surely making
progress toward the possession of nuclear weapons by taking advantage of
divisions within the international community.
Its
underground nuclear test on Monday, after a first test in 2006, is a challenge
thrown in the face of the new American administration. Will Barack Obama meet
this test with more success than his predecessor, George W. Bush? The entire
world is watching and waiting for the answer. The White House, already
confronted with a host of intractable issues, would be perfectly happy to not
have to deal with this extra puzzle.
In
its desire to be taken seriously, North Korea doesn’t skimp on resources.
Pyongyang had already laid its cards on the table last month, when it tried to
put a satellite into orbit atop a long-range missile. In the aftermath of the
atomic test on Monday, missile launches took place to the west and east of the
peninsula and information has been filtering out that about the resumption of
operations at the Yongbyon plant, where the North
enriches plutonium. Pyongyang has even declared the 1953 Armistice
[between the U.N. and the North] null-and-void, and has threatened to intervene
militarily if Seoul inspects North Korean vessels under the terms of the 2003 Proliferation
Security Initiative.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
The
tension between North and South Korea is greater than at any time in the recent
past. If it continues to grow, the slightest provocation could provoke an armed
conflict.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the Pyongyang regime, the behavior
of “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il is not too difficult to decrypt. After falling
victim to a stroke last year, the dictator is undoubtedly seeking to show that
he remains in charge and that his family controls the state apparatus as he
prepares for a difficult succession. As the strategy of raising tension is the
only method this unique regime seems to know, no one has yet found an effective
response.
Bill
Clinton tried cooperation; George W. Bush, confrontation. Neither of the two
approaches obtained the desired result.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
This
time, the condemnation of Pyongyang has been unanimous and couched in stronger
terms than usual by Russia and China. But it's doubtful that these two
countries are prepared to adopt effective sanctions. Moscow risks the financial
benefits of its support, while Beijing remains Pyongyang's main supplier and
above all, fears a collapse of the regime which would send refugees flooding
over its border.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Yonhap News Agency, South Korea:
Spy Agency Confirms Kim Jong-il's Third Son to Succeed Him
Daily North Korea, South Korea:
Top Korean Defector: We Should 'Neglect' Kim Jong-il
Korea Central News, North Korea:
America 'Wholly to Blame' for Nuclear Threat to World
Korea Central News, North Korea:
South Korea 'Declares War'
Daily North Korea, South Korea:
Why Did North Korea Hold a Nuclear Test Now?
Daily North Korea, South Korea:
Regime Change is Only Solution for North Korea
The Asia Times, Hong Kong:
Beijing Weighs its Options
The Hanyoreh, South Korea:
Paricipation in U.S.-Led
WMD Control a Mistake for Seoul
JoongAng Ilbo, South Korea:
South Must Delay Transfer of Wartime
Control from U.S. to South
Yonhap News Agency, South Korea:
Obama's 'Tough Challenge' from Stubborn Kim Jong-il
Like
South Korea, Japan is worried. The emerging threat favors those who wish to
beef up Japan’s defense capabilities.
Barack
Obama is not likely to fall into the trap set by Kim Jong-il’s provocation. All
the same, he must still demonstrate that his new diplomacy is better equipped
than those of his predecessors to convince Beijing and Moscow to isolate the
North Korean menace.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US June 2, 7:49pm]
