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The Hell-Hole Spectator
North Korea’s Rocket Man
Kim Jong-un is also proving his regime is unreformable.
(Page 2 of 2)
It is time for a change in policy. Washington should declare that the North is East Asia’s problem. The ROK can defend itself; American troops should come home. Deterring Pyongyang should become South Korea’s responsibility. The U.S. should focus on nonproliferation, warning of overwhelming retaliation should North Korea transfer critical materials or processes to terrorist groups.
Whoever wins the ROK’s presidential election on December 19, Seoul should confront the DPRK without illusion. The North Koreans may be separated brothers and sisters, but the North’s leadership is ruthless and brutal. The only policy that Pyongyang respects is toughness — a stronger military, better preparedness, and no subsidies. If South Koreans prefer to go soft, that is their choice, but they should accept the consequences. It makes no sense for America to defend the ROK as the South underwrites the Kim regime.
Japan should abandon the illusion that the present regime is ready to make an accounting for those kidnapped. Tokyo’s policy has been stuck on Pyongyang’s undeniably outrageous behavior decades ago. But the North’s nuclear and missile programs are far more important and pose a genuine security threat to Japan today. The latter, which faces an election and likely power transition, must create a more robust military capable of defending against both the DPRK and China.
Russia should stop playing footsie with Pyongyang. Even Vladimir Putin appears to have no interest in restoring Cold War-style ties with the North. Moscow gains too much from its relationship with South Korea. However, Russia has been improving its links with the DPRK. It’s a losing game. The isolated, irresponsible Kim regime wants to use Moscow to create some balance with China, but has little to offer the Putin government.
Finally, the PRC should focus on its long-term interests: stability on its border, reduced threat of conflict in the Korean peninsula, end of nuclear proliferation that could spread to South Korea and Japan, fewer desperate refugees crossing the Yalu, increased trade with a wealthier united Korea, and improved claim to regional leadership. All of these would be advanced by transforming if not ending the Kim family criminal enterprise known as the North Korean government.
The DPRK’s latest military adventure should surprise no one. The time for illusion is over. Kim Jong-un is proving to be anything but a serious reformer.
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is the author and editor of several books, including The Politics of Plunder: Misgovernment in Washington (Transaction).
Letter to the Editor View all comments (24) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 12.13.12 @ 7:07AM
So this rocket can reach Hawaii. Has anyone sent him the coordinates of King and Queen Zero's new squat?
RCV| 12.13.12 @ 11:31AM
Sounds like something a real American like you would think of.
Occam's Tool| 12.13.12 @ 4:54PM
Essentially, the NKs are getting to the point where they can threaten our ally in Japan. What the hell are we doing about it, RCV? See my solution, below.
RJ| 12.13.12 @ 7:56AM
Any conservative who thinks surrendering ground to Obama is a good idea because Obama will own the resulting failure and his supporters will learn from it, should be reminded of North Korea.
As far as Andropov, yes much of the American media thought of him as a moderate, even though he tried to murder the Pope. What a standard. Further evidence that much of the American media is not worth listening to - they are either fools or liars.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 9:09AM
I agree with Bandow, as far as the fact that we don't need any people in South Korea. Give'em Nukes of their own, Anti-Missile Batteries, and Laser Technology, and let them go about the job of Defending themselves.
Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and whoever else feels impacted, if not imperiled, by China's newfound Belligerence, would be wise to start up their own Defensive Pact.
The Forces of Darkness are on the move, and awash in Cash. Not a good combination.
I know: Let's gut OUR Military by $50 Billion a year, for the next 10 Years.
What could possibly go wrong?
RJ| 12.13.12 @ 4:29PM
I would be happy to see our troops leave South Korea and I don't see much benefit in US participation in NATO. The people in Washington need to be reminded that the US Armed Forces exist to defend the United States and its interests. American volunteers should never be thought of as policemen for the world.
Hardcard| 12.13.12 @ 8:12AM
This space junk is scheduled to land on Dec.21. gee who would have thunk it? Maybe we can send these commie bastards more of our tax dollars so they don't starve. The rocketman dude looks kind of fat though, we can include moochelles calorie counter .
Von Mises Jr| 12.13.12 @ 9:32AM
North Korea's rocket launch tumbling out of control is a perfect metaphor for Obama's foreign policy. Perhaps Barry and Hillary should declare an "Asian Spring?"
To fund this "Asian Spring" would be a piece of cake, perhaps "yellow cake." We can have China put the aid on our tab and they can truck the dollars right across the mountains without having to even get involved. I propose $2 trillion. Hell, if we can spend almost that to give illegal Mexican Aliens health care, it would be racist to neglect little commie Asians. If health care is a right, then food must be even higher up the scale as a human right.
Al Adab| 12.13.12 @ 10:53AM
The threat posed by N K is one which has been pending for about 20 years. Clinton dealt with its emergence by buying off NK with the provision of reactors ofr "peaceful" purposes. That worked out well. Very similar to the way this administration and sadly its predesessor dealt with the emerging Iranian threat. Both have reached the critical mass (pun intended) point yet action is wanting.
Pecos Pete| 12.13.12 @ 8:25AM
North Korea looks like the source for King O's planning for the USA. Four more years of King O's fascist criminal enterprise will further entrench the czars and their entombment of liberty in the USA.
c. j. acworth| 12.13.12 @ 9:00AM
Actually, Pete, I was thinking that the newest edition of Kim should take a page from the playbook of our own Dear Leader and just raise taxes on all the millionaires and billionaires that their wonderful system has produced. If they complain, he can just say "Hey, you didn't build that."
Albert Constantine Jr.| 12.13.12 @ 10:07AM
Actually, I think Kim and Barry both share the notion that all money and resources belong to the government, and they just let the people hold them for a little while.
Just as he publicly remarked how he envied the ease with which the Chinese government could institute its will on the people in executing its infrastructure projects, I would not be surprised if he envied the Kim's rejection of term limits and ability to develop consensus.
Al Adab| 12.13.12 @ 10:50AM
Albert, your first sentence hits hte issue on the head. The Left does indeed believe that all wealth is ultimately property of the government save only what they allow us to keep. That is so contradictory to the entire American experience as to be laughable were it not for the fact that the current administration believes it is so.
Government exists to protect the wealth, property and rights of the citizens, not to "benevolently" provide our pottage from the resources of others.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 3:07PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Rayzorback| 12.13.12 @ 8:53AM
So.... the "Rocketman" now has a 3 stage Rocket huh? Maybe would should go ahead and show him how the Bomb part works. I don't think he understands "Japanese".
CrackerHound| 12.13.12 @ 10:35AM
Yea, they HAD a three stage rocket. The problem for NK is that was probably the ONLY one.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 12.13.12 @ 12:32PM
Like Daffy Duck sputtering at the end of the Looney Tunes cartoon where he blows himself up, "The problem is I can only do it once".
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 3:08PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
Bill8472| 12.13.12 @ 10:16AM
When North Korea fired its rocket, how come the U.S. didn't use that moment to test its SDI satellite laser capacity? It would have been a good practical learning moment.
TLP| 12.13.12 @ 4:06PM
Contest at Tuesday's Story: More Pants Than Fire.
Look for Pinnochio.
You really need to go to this.
It's about Pugsley's Rocket.
Al Adab| 12.13.12 @ 11:09AM
Time magazine picks Kim as Man of the Year.
US administration waffles on comments concerning launch.
Doctor Right| 12.13.12 @ 12:49PM
North Korea is the plu-perfect example of dealing with the Left.
To wit: They will do anything, say anything, and tell any lie to advance their cause...
...And the fools in the western world continue to lap it up like dogs (err...running dogs).
China has no interest in a de-fanged, liberalized North Korea. First of all, they're still fraternal commies, and all that implies.
Second, while the rest of the world is worrying about the next move this loony nation makes, no one is really watching China...and China, a brutal, one-party state, looks positively reasonable by comparison.
Our policy towards North Korea has been absurd for over 20 years. The end of the Cold War should have seen a strong effort to topple this regime, but instead Clinton propped them up with an economic lifeline and enabled them to build nuclear weapons.
North Korea is a sociopathic state; the people are brainwashed, and the ruling elite are bloodthirsty and ambitious.
They have nukes...and soon, they'll be able to put one on a missile and threaten the western Pacific rim.
And that's the only thing about North Korea you can trust:
They WILL use their nukes.
Stan Redmond| 12.13.12 @ 5:58PM
Or sell it. Iran, Venezuela, Eqypt, I'm sure there's lot of willing customers.
Occam's Tool| 12.13.12 @ 4:52PM
A sufficient number of 475 kiloton airbursts could eliminate this problem with minimal radioactive fallout and contamination.