[The Toronto Star, Canada]
NRC Handelsblad, The
Netherlands
The Korean Knife at Obama's Throat
"At
home, the army uses weapons to show the 22 million North Koreans that it will
ensure political continuity. Abroad, the message is similar: North Korea is capable
of disturbing the sleep of American President Obama with a '3am wake-up call.'"
EDITORIAL
Translated By Meta
Mertens
May 26, 2009
The Netherlands - NRC Handelsblad - Original
Article (Dutch)
For a country balanced
on the edge of an economic abyss and unable to sufficiently feed its own
population, North Korea appears capable of an unprecedented amount of
initiative. After yesterday's underground nuclear test, the North Korean military
launched two KN-01 short-range missiles which have a maximum range of about 100
miles. And unlike what happened two months ago with one of its long-range
missiles, these didn't land in the water.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
One can only guess at the political message of these two military
tests within two days.
One thing is certain,
however: the regime in Pyongyang has made it clear that Seoul - the capital of South
Korea - is now within range of a neighbor that seems to want to become a
nuclear power. As for the rest, because of the autarkic and obscure nature of Kim
Jong-il's communist regime, most analysts can agree on little more in the way
of a plausible hypothesis.
The greatest
common denominator is that the North Korean military wants to demonstrate that its
control of the nation's politics will not ease, even as the health of the party
leader leaves something to be desired. His youngest son, Kim Jong-un, is in the
running to succeed him, just as Kim Jong-il succeeded his father, Kim Il-sung,
in 1994. One indication of this is that the 25-year-old Kim was recently
appointed to a junior post on the all-powerful National Defense Commission, on
which of course, the current party leader is chairman and since April, his
brother-in-law, Jong Song-taek, has played a prominent role.
The position of
the armed forces is crucial in succession politics of this kind - both
domestically as well as in the international arena. At home, the army uses
weapons to show the 22 million North Koreans that it will ensure political
continuity. Abroad, the message is similar: North Korea is capable of disturbing
the sleep of American President Obama with a "3am wake-up call." With
a few minor provocations, it can impose its agenda on the six party talks of
the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea, which is perceived by Pyongyang
as 5+1. Up to now, the great powers have been reasonably united in expressing disapproval.
But this consensus is largely verbal. A tightening of sanctions doesn't appear
likely.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
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:
Full Paricipation in U.S.-Led Maritime
WMD Control a Mistake for Seoul
JoongAng Ilbo, South Korea:
South Korea Must Delay Transfer of Wartime
Control from Washington to Seoul
Yonhap News Agency, South Korea:
Obama's 'Tough Challenge'
from Stubborn Kim Jong-il
Decidedly, it is America
and China which feel the knife at their throats - because the political
strategy of North Korea seems precisely focused on blackmailing the U.S. into coming
to the negotiating table. So far, Washington has operated within the context of
six parties and has hoped for unanimity. But the U.S. must account for the fact
that China and Russia want to keep the "door to negotiations" open,
as one diplomat in Moscow explained this morning.
That poses a complicated
dilemma for Obama. The U.S. must respond to North Korea's provocation, but it
can no longer do so alone.
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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 29, 1:59am]
