North Korea drastically needs money so any concessions that they make are designed to get the US to the bargaining table where they can exchange something for US financial aid. If we look at things in this context we will see that any offer that they make will be superficial and wont actually do a thing. They are not willing to give up any real advantages but are perfectly willing to make a show. When we look at the situation this way we will see why US officials are skeptical. They also know exactly the concessions that they need to get from the North Koreans to make any negotiations worthwhile. It is obvious that North Korea missed the mark in this incident.
The specific offer from the North Koreans was to freeze tests and production of nuclear weapons and missiles. The truth is that they dont need to conduct any tests of nuclear weapons so they are not really giving anything up. The US wants to end North Koreas nuclear programs altogether but we all know that aint gonna happen so it looks like we have a standoff here.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday if, Pyongyang is willing to refrain from nuclear tests and missile launches, it would be welcome, but the offer would be insufficient, noting it doesnt mention Pyongyangs uranium enrichment program. So here we see the bottom line of the matter for both countries. Their disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility remains a matter of serious concern to the US, these activities are a clear violation of their obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 and contrary to the commitments they made in 2005.
North Korea agreed in principle to scrap its nuclear program, including a presumed small arsenal of nuclear weapons, in 2005 in return for economic and diplomatic benefit. Since this hasnt happened yet how can we expect them to honor any commitment now. Another problem is that any such actions are just about impossible for the US to verify. We can look back to past experiences in other countries to see this. The United Nations also doesnt have any teeth as an organization to enforce any of its resolutions.
Pyongyang tested a nuclear device in 2006, and another in 2009, and has conducted several missile tests.
North-South Korea relations were in crisis last year after Pyongyang sank a South Korean warship and shelled a southern coastal island. I believe that the purpose of this was to draw attention from the world community and to get the US back to some type of bargaining table where they would promise to be good if we would give them some money or other type of economic aid.
Tensions have eased of late, though, with North and South Korean officials meeting last month at an ASEAN conference in Bali, Indonesia. U.S. and North Korean envoys later met in New York.
Bruce Klingner, the senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at Washingtons Heritage Foundation, said the vague pledges made by the North Korean leader are part of what he terms a charm offensive. He said there may be less substance to the gesture than is indicated by news headlines.
Klingner said nothing came of a reported North Korean offer last December to re-admit international inspectors to its Yongbyong nuclear complex. We can see from these actions alone that we shouldnt expect any reconcillation by the North Koreans.
Military Ring Express
