Promised II: A gentler, kinder North Korea

by

Hat tip to Constant Reader Wilfred for this item

Via Instapundit

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North Korea caves

North Korea, probably the world’s most secretive and isolated nation, has offered an olive branch to the US by promising never to sell nuclear materials to terrorists, calling for Washington’s friendship and saying it does not want to suffer the fate of Iraq.

The dilemma here for the pundits will be whether to laud this as more proof of the effectiveness of Bush’s overall effort in the war on terror (see: Libya) or stick with the “you can’t trust the North Koreans” line that frequently meets diplomatic proposals to get rid of their nukes.

UPDATE: Via Constant Reader Fabius

Drum does what clearly I should have and clicks through the Instapundit link

Mr Kim rejected the notion that North Korea would never give up nuclear weapons. He argued that Pyongyang — branded by Mr Bush as part of the “axis of evil” — was developing nuclear weapons purely to deter a US attack. “We don’t want to suffer the fate of Iraq,” he told Mr Harrison.

….Mr Kim told Mr Harrison he thought Mr Bush was delaying resolution of the North Korean issue because of the war in Iraq and the US presidential election later this year. But he said: “Time is not on his side. We are going to use this time 100 per cent effectively to strengthen our nuclear deterrent both quantitatively and qualitatively.”

The lyrics to The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy) spring to mind.

14 thoughts on “Promised II: A <strike>gentler, kinder</strike> North Korea”

  2. Mr Kim rejected the notion that North Korea would never give up nuclear weapons. He argued that Pyongyang – branded by Mr Bush as part of the “axis of evil” – was developing nuclear weapons purely to deter a US attack. “We don’t want to suffer the fate of Iraq,” he told Mr Harrison.
    The lesson of Iraq.

  3. “Did you read Drum on this?” – i.e., did you read the link?
    Calpundit read the story linked to so we don’t have to:

    Mr Kim rejected the notion that North Korea would never give up nuclear weapons. He argued that Pyongyang — branded by Mr Bush as part of the “axis of evil” — was developing nuclear weapons purely to deter a US attack. “We don’t want to suffer the fate of Iraq,” he told Mr Harrison.

    Though why this story doesn’t have people’s hair on fire eludes me.

  5. Even in the weak version it wasn’t rosy. “North Korea promises not to sell nuclear materials to terrorists” is about as encouraging as a shark’s promise not to feed when it smells blood.
    This wasn’t an olive branch, it was a blatant threat to make more nukes in the hopes of getting Bush to send oil to North Korea.
    I also love Kim’s projection: “he thought Mr Bush was delaying resolution of the North Korean issue because of the war in Iraq…”
    Yeah, because Bush is the one who is saying that the cessation of the NK nuclear program shouldn’t be subject to inspection or verification.

  6. Even in the weak version it wasn’t rosy. “North Korea promises not to sell nuclear materials to terrorists” is about as encouraging as a shark’s promise not to feed when it smells blood.
    What was meant to be encouraging about it was the idea that NK was afraid of Bush, Sebastian.

  7. What was meant to be encouraging about it was the idea that NK was afraid of Bush, Sebastian.
    I dunno about you guys, but I’d rather do without an international political situation so unstable and unpredictable that every tinpot dictator thinks he requires nukes to defend himself.
    Damn, the 21st century was supposed to be so much better than this. Flying cars, underwater cities, and a peaceful solar federation. What the hell happened to us?

  9. Thanks, asdf. I sure hope the federation only allows these flying contraptions OUTSIDE the city’s protective biodome bubble. I don’t want one crashing through my pod’s roof while me and the family chow down on our meal of vita-pills. Now what about the rocket mail I was promised and the house interior I can clean with a garden hose?

  10. “I dunno about you guys, but I’d rather do without an international political situation so unstable and unpredictable that every tinpot dictator thinks he requires nukes to defend himself.”
    Umm, I think this severely misdescribes the history of our relations with North Korea.

  11. I don’t know but doesn’t it make sense to follow up on this as though it were offered up in all sincerity? What have we got to lose?
    I continue to believe that the key to resolving the problem with North Korea remains China. Until we’re willing to exert more effort to encouraging the Chinese to stop propping up the North Korean government, why shouldn’t North Korea continue to play brinksmanship games?

  12. Value Subtracting Enterprises

    Via Edward of Obsidian Wings. Instapundit writes: Obsidian Wings: Promised II: A gentler, kinder North Korea: North Korea caves: North Korea, probably the world’s most secretive and isolated nation, has offered an olive branch to the US by promising ne…

  13. Brad DeLong just linked to the post. Edward — spreading truth and reason thru-out blogville.

  14. Harley, I think I’m more Brad’s example of someone who was duped by Instapundit than someone spreading truth or reason…but thanks for the heads up.

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