This even surprised Russia, a country that usually is not too adamant a supporter of stopping North Korea (compared with the US, or Japan). A Russian foreign ministry source was quoted of saying "The launch of short-range missiles by the Korean People's Democratic Republic causes bewilderment." I'm guessing that this "testing of limits" by North Korea even surprised China, because just last week, the premier, Wen Jiabao visited North Korea, and N.K said that it was willing to go back to the negotiating table.
Clearly, North Korea is just trying to test the other countries and see what they will do. I think if the US and its allies really want to get the message through that N.K's actions are not okay, they should be more assertive. The US already sent an aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan. Still, I do not think that is enough.
North Korea right now is acting like a toddler (toddler with nukes that is). It keeps wanting to see what it can do before getting a scolding. Maybe the US and its allies should start giving out more than just "scoldings" and convince other countries to start sanctioning. About 75% of people already think that North Korea is at least somewhat of a threat to the US in terms of nuclear engagements, so I think the US should take initiative (since it is the big dog in the world right now) and kill the beast in its infancy.
Picture this:
PLUS 
-Henry Zhang
10 comments:
Appeasement.. here we go again...
It really is kinda scary. But I think that you are right in saying that the world in general must do something because America flying solo could make enemies or at least disgruntled neighbors out of neutrals and allies no matter how justified the action is, what with America looking all police-of-nations-like.
Well, we aren't really the big dog anymore. ;(. Economy issues. How do you suppose we go about being more assertive? It will be pretty hard since America wants to avoid getting involved with more than it already is a part of.
I fully see the problem with America being more assertive. However, if America does not, other countries are not likely to follow. As for the debate of is US the "big dog", it is a little more obscure than it was maybe 20 years ago. However, the US still is a major presence in the world today with its huge military, and still strongest economy (despite problems bringing it down). Plus if the US doesn't act now, it will have a larger problem in the future regarding North Korea. The US did have problems with Bin Laden and terrorism in the early 1990s, and it didn't do as much as it should have back then so now it has a larger problem. I believe this is likely to happen with North Korea as well, so amidst its economic problems, the US should find a way to be more assertive, just maybe balance the problem at home and the problem in the world.
-Henry Zhang
Though I do believe that North Korea should not be "testing the limits" of other countries, I do not feel like it is the job of the United States to police them and "kill the beast in its infancy". I think the US, along with all other countries that have problems with/are bewildered by North Korea's actions should communicate with each other and then approach North Korea together. Fighting against one country is hard, but fighting against multiple is much harder. Yes, N.K. may be acting like a toddler, but that doesn't mean the US has to act like the bossy 5th grader who thinks they rule the play-ground. If the US starts trying to control North Korea's actions, resentment towards us could become a problem later on. When making these kinds of decisions, I think a little bit of foresight is a necessity.
wow i really think this is kinda scary! I heard there "might" be a world war three so to hear this it des freak me out. I just hope of we do get to the point of another war that the U.S will retaliate in a sophisticated manner. I agree most definantley with your saying that te U.S can not fly solo. We need allies and not enemies and though we may think nothing is going to happen something just might.
"wow i really think this is kinda scary! I heard there "might" be a world war three so to hear this it des freak me out." - Sabina
No.
To everyone:
North Korea is still at war with South Korea. North Korea knows that there is no way it could stand up to a coalition of nations, or maybe even the US by itself. It's too poor to fight or "test other countries' limits" anyways.
Foresight and insight into North Korea will serve us well. Listen up:
A. North Korea is need of aid (food, possibly water, medical supplies, steel, etc.)
B. The North Korean government probably wants to save face and national pride while still receiving help.
C. It has nuclear weapons.
Given these three basic circumstances, what do you think North Korea is trying to do?
My answer is that it's trying to use its nuclear weapons to threaten other countries into making a deal requisitioning foreign aid. The US or whatever multilateral force would be scared into making a deal exchanging aid and resources for nuclear weapons. This way, the North Korean government can save face and national pride, or at least look like it did.
Kevin, that is a very logical theory that is very likely. It just further points out another thing the US can do. The US can convince other countries to start restricting trade into North Korea. The way things are going now, especially with Russia being surprised and N.K launching missiles right after a talk with China, the US has at least a better chance of convincing such nations of restricting trade and thus getting the message through to N. Korea.
-Henry Zhang
Henry, yes that would be a good idea. Although I can't think of any country that currently trades with North Korea.
In any case, I say we give them the cold shoulder. If what I thought is true, then we should ignore them. We shouldn't hand over food and resources to disarm them.
Well, I believe that N.K currently gets most of its food supplies from the surrounding countries of China and South Korea. Remember the devastation of the famine in North Korea (that is still going on today, just at a lower scale)? N.K needs to focus more on its production of necessary supplies for its people rather than weapons (I'm guessing this is one of its greater criticisms in the world), and until it does that. Shutting down food supplies into N.K will prove to be a great weakness for N. Korea.
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