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At Large
Pyongyang Plays Its Game
How long before it blows up in everybody’s faces?
How far is it possible for a nation to progress when it essentially disregards the general welfare of its population? The leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have long since decided that it’s acceptable to them to allow other countries (such as China, South Korea and the U.S.) to worry about North Korean citizens while the long established hierarchy put their effort in building their military/scientific infrastructure and churning out arms and equipment for its favored and tough armed forces.
The DPRK defense strategy is based on the concept that the United States will never attack on a first strike basis (conventional or nuclear) and that the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south also will respond only to North Korean initiatives. This places Pyongyang in total military control of their fate, even if they are relatively weak in the international political scene.
Recently the North Koreans have tested their strategy by sinking a South Korean frigate that in turn brought nothing but a show of force by the U.S. and ROK navies in the Yellow Sea. This was then followed by the shelling of the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing several civilians and wounding twelve. To this action the Seoul government responded simply with a well-publicized artillery and tank live fire exercise.
Before Pyongyang launched its shelling operation, it proudly showed off its previously secret new uranium enrichment facility. Aside from some huffing and puffing, Washington responded by reiterating it would not have one-on-one talks with the Pyongyang and made a big show of questioning the value of renewed six-party negotiations. What’s more, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico was allowed by the Obama Administration to slip himself back into foreign affairs by making yet again another “personal” trip to North Korea that resulted only in bolstering his own ego.
Meanwhile the DPRK’s prime ally, China, has kept up a steady drumbeat calling for a resumption of the six-power talks. Again the vision of the impoverished North Korean populace in the midst of winter is used along with “growing tensions” on the border of the North and South. Pyongyang propagandistically characterizes all problems as stemming from the belligerent attitude of the Seoul government of Lee Myung-bak. Once again black is defined as white and white as black. Perhaps President Obama will inquire about this absurd political colorization when Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives for his much-heralded Washington state visit on January 19.
How long can this North Korean charade continue? The answer is that it will last — and be embellished — as long as Beijing acts as Pyongyang’s protector. And there is no sign of that ending. In the meantime the DPRK actually grows in strength internationally as it finds more support in the United Nations among those countries following Hugo Chavez’s political lead and ignoring North Korean sales of missiles and perhaps even nuclear technology to countries like Iran and Syria.
The objective of the current Kim Jong-il reign is to reinforce its existing partnership with the all-powerful North Korean military, intelligence and security apparat to ensure the effective transition to the next Kim as Leader, Kim Jong-eon. At the same time maintenance of tension on the Korean peninsula worries South Korea’s customers in all its important markets. This plays to Pyongyang’s methodology of keeping tensions high in order to put pressure on South Korea’s voters to opt internally for a more appeasing and fraternally oriented political leadership.
All this clever maneuvering and saber rattling of the North is supposed to produce an advantageous political economic environment for North Korea that ultimately results in a leveraged trade with the South Koreans and possibly even some peace-seeking largesse from the United States. Do bad things and then get paid off to stop doing them. It has worked before!
In support of this typical cunning ploy, Pyongyang surprisingly has floated the line internationally that it is not at ease with its dependence on the very demanding friends in Beijing. If this appears rather ungrateful and perhaps even counter-productive, it is merely a reflection of the convoluted nature of the politics of the Kim dynasty. Beijing follows the big brother route and ignores the absurdity — for the moment.
While such devices may play well with Bill Richardson and perhaps even President Obama, the reality is that open conflict between North and South Korea is only one military miscalculation away. This danger increases as the DPRK builds on its existing nuclear arsenal and improving missile technology.
There should be no false hope that North Korea in the foreseeable future will cease its effort to grow into a substantial military power. China knows this and is planning accordingly. How will Washington handle the situation? So far, in spite of much behind-the-scenes third party intervention, the U.S. has been relatively passive in its reaction. Unfortunately, passivity in countering aggressiveness generally encourages rather than diminishes the latter.
In any case, the answer to the question posed at the outset of this piece is that North Korea under the current form of regime will always sacrifice the interests of its population as it has in the past in order to stay in power. The next question has been asked since the early 1950s: How much should the United States care?
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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Ret. Marine| 12.29.10 @ 7:00AM
Yes, how much do We the People care? I suggest, first get this usurper ( obamas Bin Ly'n) out of the way, tell ole bill to shut his pie hole, and then send in the A-team, as in ass kickers. Enough already with these postulating lying punks with the nuke toys. They are nothing short of a stain upon all humanity. And our fav-trade-payed-off partners, the chinks, they can take their own economic chances of pissing on their population only so far before they too are over run with the reality of got skin in the game marksmanship.
It does not go unnoticed every time a demonrat viper is at the head, the appeasement begins. Why is this I ask. Simple really, that's all they've got. Note, every time an R is heading the delegation, there is a give and take, but mostly the DPRK takes and lies to all at the same time while lying. I rather like R. Regans approach, trust but verify. And right there is the problem. There is no way to either trust or verify what the DPRK has been doing and there never will be as long as the kim's ( little peter puppets) of the world are in power for themselves. Rid the world of the laywers, then the communist, problem solved.
DONBALTIMORE| 12.29.10 @ 8:54PM
Perfect comment, I agree with every word.
Slowtrot| 12.31.10 @ 10:39AM
I second the notion that this comment is perfect and double the approval of getting rid of the damned lawyers!!!
Redstateboy| 12.29.10 @ 8:36AM
I think it's all easier to understand that N Korea is China's Junkyard Dog and does what China wants it to do.. all China needs to do is let out some chain or pull in some chain.
Redstateboy| 12.29.10 @ 8:39AM
oh.. I might add.. this is what happens when you go in debt to people. The debtor is slave to the lender.
Paul D| 12.29.10 @ 8:54AM
Actually, debtors own creditors. Think about it.
John | 12.29.10 @ 8:55AM
Time to call out the Obama A Team. Yes. I mean U.S. envoy to Sudan Major General J. Scott Gration. The Richardsons and Albrights are good but they can't hold a candle to this man whose talents are being wasted in the Horn of Africa. Gration is famous for formulating the "Smiley Faces" doctrine. "We've got to think about giving out cookies. Kids, countries -- they react to gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement." In no time we will all be holding hands and singing Kumbaya. Simple. Every Ivy League university professor knows this.
Emeril| 12.29.10 @ 10:08AM
If Dear leader and Son were bearding the Russians they'd discover that they'd some how eaten som bad Kimche. No "A"team just a Russian Chef.
A. C. Santore| 12.29.10 @ 10:34AM
Forgive me for being flippant, but in an otherwise pointed article, you wrote this: "Once again black is defined as white and white as black. Perhaps President Obama will inquire about this absurd political colorization when Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives for his much-heralded Washington state visit on January 19."
President Obama will NOT ask about his for two reasons:
1. He'll be too busy bowing and scraping. His servile bow to the King of Saudi Arabia will look like a kick in the slats by comparison.
2. He is a past master of making black white and white black and will understand it intuitively and completely.
Mojo Risin| 12.29.10 @ 1:26PM
Will anything of substance be accomplished, not with the likes of a Bill Richardson wringing his hands, calling for 6 party talks---that sure works! Also with the Marxist, socialist, communist occupant of the White House, who indicates his disinterest in anything that doesn't involve golfing, basketball, congratulating dog killers, defending racist college professors, YES doing all those things but defending this great country and absolutely nothing to get America working again!!! Obonehead is a disgusting, fraudulent hoax, who in less that 2 years has reeked as much havoc as our collective enemies have in 234 years!!!
Ullungdo| 12.29.10 @ 7:26PM
Sorry, Lessjo Settin, (see, I can make up stupid names, too), but the only thing that "reeks" is your comment. Okay, everyone can laugh now at his failure of English 101, not to mention Politics 101.
Mojo Risin| 12.30.10 @ 10:54AM
I take it you agree with what the president (Obonehead) is doing. I assume you feel the country is headed in the proper direction. You must have a good paying job and all your legislative representatives are doing all the things you approve of.
You undoubtedly are of the opinion Obonehead is handling the Korean situation with the utmost of skill and with his experience at getting the parties together it's just a matter of time before everyone is drinking beer.
Obonehead has no skill set appropriate for the job and would be better suited for guarding the porch of a south side Chicago crack house, yelling incoherently at passing cars.
WTF| 12.30.10 @ 4:55AM
The South Koreans killed three North soldiers; the North [maybe] sunk the Cheonan. The South shells the Northern Limit Line while holding war games with the USN; the North shellls an island of disputed propriety. Want to stop North over-reaction? Stop giving them cause to do anything.
Dale Cord| 12.30.10 @ 10:12AM
2011 a year that will live in Infamy. Future school history books will read: The year the Muslims conquered the United States of America. With not so much as a whimper from its cowardly military leaders, and name calling armchair patriots. Disgraceful,Shameful there are no words to adequately describe her defeat. As the 300 Spartans strength and ingenuity conquered all of those who challenged them, so a small band of renegades conquered the greatest country the world has known. When Davids rock slued Goliath. It also foretold a warning. "The bigger they are,the harder they Fall." Our country lost its battle of survival when it became intoxicated with its deceptive mentality, that it did not need its Creator anymore, and wisdom no longer was apart of its citizens physiology to survive.
Richard Baker| 12.31.10 @ 11:21AM
President Bonehead can't press too hard on the Chinese. Our debts to them and America's loss of backbone for another make it difficult. In addition, President Bonehead doesn't necessarily disagree with the Chinese ideas, as well. Thusly, North Korea is allowed to act like the spoiled child it is.