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The Spectacle Blog
As others have noted, there is nothing good to say on behalf of North Korea’s recently departed “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il. We can safely assume that he is finding something other than virgins in his journey onward.
His death should end any hope for negotiation and implementation of a new nuclear pact. There was no reason to believe that Kim wanted to give up his nuclear program. Now whoever hopes to succeed him would be a fool to propose giving up the nuclear program. Imagine calling the generals together: I’d like your support and, by the way, I suggest that we give up your biggest toy.
Twenty-something Kim Jong-un, known informally as the “Cute Leader,” may win the official designation as Kim Jong-il’s successor, but there are many potential claimants to power. The younger Kim’s aunt and uncle, for two. As well as a gaggle of Korean Worker’s Party functionaries and military men who have been waiting a long time for the Kim dynasty to end. The North likely is in for a period of political instability, with the possibility of violent conflict.
Alas, China is not likely to be helpful. Beijing wants stability, in the guise of North Korea’s continued survival. The Chinese would prefer more pliable leadership in Pyongyang, not democratic reforms or, worse, a united Korea.
The U.S. should simply stay out of the way and watch while South Korea takes whatever steps it believes necessary to protect against the impact of a breakdown in the North.
View all comments (7) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/19/forget-any-new-nuclear-deal-wi
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RJ| 12.19.11 @ 6:05AM
If our military is in South Korea only to protect that nation, I fully agree that we should stay out of things. They have one of the world's strongest economies and have more people than North Korea, which is a starving, backwards nation. The reason I have been told for our present involvement in Korea is that Japan views it as critical to its security and that it is one of our concessions to Japan to maintain a strong alliance. Given modern warfare, I doubt that our troops in Korea do much for Japanese security, but I wonder how much of our presence in Korea is based on our alliance with Japan. After all, government policy many times remains mired in the past.
Maxwell| 12.19.11 @ 7:51AM
I have no doubt that Barry will be sending along a CD/DVD collection of not only his favorite Christmas songs but all of his speeches too. This will be called The Great North Korean Reset Button. This diplomacy will long be studied at the Woodrow Wilson School of Political Science at Princeton University for its great success.
toadold| 12.19.11 @ 8:12AM
We have economic reasons to protect S. Korea and Japan for that matter. It would behoove us to signal strong military support for S. Korea. Money is flowing into the US from Japan and S. Korea right now. However given prior performance I expect the US Administration to either do nothing , offer aid with no conditions, or do some other dumb thing. Perhaps send a set of golf clubs.
Chuck| 12.19.11 @ 8:29AM
Romney's policy towards Pyongyang: on my next Bain trip to China I will stop North Korean aggression by peeing in the Yalu River.
Dai Alanye | 12.19.11 @ 2:51PM
I hope Chuck realizes this requires Romney to invade North Korea, the Yalu being on the Chinese border. I figure Romney is tougher than he looks - after all, he had a dustup with the police years back - but whether he's up to a one-man invasion is doubtful.
Occam's Tool| 12.19.11 @ 10:36PM
I spit on his grave.
Now is a good time to whip out this link: the North Korean News Agency random insult generator!
Burn in hell, Kim!
http://www.nk-news.net/extras/insult_generator.php
Russell| 12.20.11 @ 6:50AM
Kim Jong-on, Kim Jong-on
Jong-il all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
The tiger Christmas day
Dashing through the snow
Revisonists at bay
If you make fun of Jong-il's run
You'll soon have hell to pay