By Defense Secretary Robert Gates says a nuclear North Korea is unacceptable, I say to Secretary Gates he best get used to it:
The United States will not accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday at an international conference.
“We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in the region — or on us,” said Gates, speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore.
“Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and we will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state,” he said.
His comments came amid growing concern across the globe over North Korea’s latest nuclear test and test-firings of short-range missiles.
On Friday, two Defense Department officials said the latest U.S. satellite imagery has spotted “vehicle activity” at a North Korean ballistic missile facility.
“North Korea’s nuclear program and actions constitute a threat to regional peace and security. We unequivocally reaffirm our commitment to the defense of our allies in the region,” Gates said in Singapore. [CNN]
North Korea is not going to denuclearize. I highly recommend everyone read the Strategic Disengagement Theory to understand why.
Here is what else Secretary Gates had to say:
The United States would hold North Korea “fully accountable for the consequences” if the secretive state were to provide nuclear weapons or material to other nations or groups, Gates warned.
I like Secretary Gates and the nation is lucky to have him operating the Pentagon compared to his predecessor, however that doesn’t mean he is above criticism. As Gates surely knows, North Korea has already been caught smuggling nuclear material to other nations. In fact they were helping to construct an entire nuclear reactor in Syria until the Israelis bombed it in 2007. After this clear proliferation of WMD technology North Korea wasn’t punished for this, but instead rewarded as the US government made massive concessions to the North Koreans in order to keep the Agreed Framework 2.0 alive to only have the North Koreans reneg on it in the end. Remember this all went on during Gates’ watch at the Pentagon though I have to say Chris Hill and the State Department is most to blame for this foreign policy disaster.
However, to say now that the North Koreans will be held accountable after not being held accountable before or even after their recent missile test seems disingenuous to me.
5:33 pm on May 30th, 2009 1
Gates is just saying what he has to say. Even though The Chonger has crude nuclear weapons he's not going to use them. Nor is his proliferation going to cause terrorist Nukes to start popping off all over the place.
Nuclear weapons are scary but they're really just bargaining tools. Obviously, Gates knows this and he's just continuing the long U.S. policy of Containment of North Korea. To me this is unfortunate because I'd like to see the Koreas Unite but it's not going to happen in the next decade, maybe in this century. Heck, NK may end up being absorbed by China.
9:04 pm on May 30th, 2009 2
But we will accept a place where people are slaves to the party and are even put to work manufacturing slave goods for the Republic of Korea to sell internationally to the free people of the world. We will accept a country that murders thousands each year for thought crimes. We will accept a dictator that drink Hennesy by the crate load while children wither and die of starvation. All of this is cool with us… you just can't have nuclear weapons!!!
10:27 pm on May 30th, 2009 3
“…NK may end up being absorbed by China.”
I don’t think the Chinese want them, Ran. What on earth would they do with a place like North Korea?
10:36 pm on May 30th, 2009 4
For many people, they couldn’t care any less about what is going on in North Korea, as long as their own personal peace and prosperity are not affected—out of sight out of mind. And the North Korean leadership is very good at keeping the cruelty they have committed against their own people out of sight. It’s the sad reality of the present world in which live.
12:07 am on May 31st, 2009 5
Good point IN SEOUL, I don't know why China would want such a dysfunctional country but they do unconditionally support them.
Obviously, it's just in China's interest to support a fellow communist country in Asia and they've done nothing to stem the millions of starvation deaths there.
Since China owns an incredible amount of America's increasing debt I think it's likely one day they'll cash in. Since America can't and won't pay up then China will accept a compromise where the U.S. will have a significant less presence in East/South Asia. This can only work in NK's favor.
5:34 am on May 31st, 2009 6
12:15 pm on May 31st, 2009 7
China just realised they have no where else to invest other than the US. So the investment worries that so many worry about seem moot. If push ever did come to shove the US could just print the money. Not a good hedge for China when the value of the dollar would drop dramatically.
China likes the buffer between South Korea, the US etc and its borders. And China probobly would absorb the North Koreans if need be. In the end China would control the north lock stock and barral, while it would close the borders between China and the North. (no way out).
The South Koreans and the North are still at war. The south cannot cross the border without being accuised of invading the north.
12:20 pm on May 31st, 2009 8
I have heard this as well from relatives in the south. Not interested in the least about whats going on in the north. I think if I lived in South Korea I would be a little more interested. Perhaps its too much bluster over too many years that have made the people so complacent.
6:25 pm on May 31st, 2009 9
Even though the S. Koreans claim to not care it's the NUMBER ONE topic that rules their lives. Why do you think they elected somebody as stupid as Roh Moo Hyun?
See Gerry, no matter what they say this is how it is:
1. Koreans
2. Koreans (South or North, doesn't matter)
3-26. Anyone but Americans
27. Americans (maybe)
Yes, this is the definition of irony because the U.S. is the only reason there is a S. Korea but that's what happens when you stick around 60 years too long.
8:21 pm on May 31st, 2009 10
Plz watch that video~
it is really serious situation in Korea now, we might lose freedom of speech~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f25m6DAvNPE&fe…
9:09 pm on May 31st, 2009 11
Interesting that your video is broadcast in Chinese. Like THEY understand freedom of speech.
We are getting ready for the same thing in the USA with the "Fairness Doctrine" about to be rammed in us.
Imagine if from the beginning, your culture espoused the idea of individual freedom and the right to keep and bear arms as a final check and balance on oppressive government.
Hmmmm…
9:14 pm on May 31st, 2009 12
Yes… all in the name of regional stability.
4:59 am on June 1st, 2009 13
I think Korea is part of mainland Asia, not mainland China. There's only about 25,000 US troops in South Korea. Just a political tripwire. If they left (and I think they should have left in the 1980s) I don't think it would make much difference.
1:07 am on June 2nd, 2009 14
North Korea borders with China. The entire continent, and much of that part of the world is Asia. The U.S. presence in South Korea is what is keeping North Korea at bay. That is why North Korea claims it is at war with the USA, and not with South Korea.