Posted on 08/05/2003 4:37:53 PM PDT by Brian S
Edited on 07/19/2004 2:11:38 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea and Iran are planning to form an alliance to develop long-range ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads, the Sankei newspaper said, citing unidentified Japanese military officials familiar with situations on the Korean Peninsula.
The two countries, which have been in talks for about a year, may reach an agreement in October, the paper said. Under the plan, North Korea will transport missile parts to Iran for assembly at a plant near Tehran, Iran's capital. North Korea will send officials to provide technical assistance, the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at quote.bloomberg.com ...
Heh heh heh. Ze Americains vill never zuzpect. (Indefinable Euro accent)
As for Iran....let them know through diplomatic channels when to turn on their TV.
Oh -- no -- remember they moved on. Now they wonder why Bush didn't focus all of his attention on North Korea instead of Iraq -- oh what a mistake he's made -- they've been sooo vocal on NK for years -- didn't you know?
What Will George Bush Do About North Korea?
How to win without really trying
by Tom Adkins
08/01/03
Now that Iraq has been somewhat tamed with a swift and decisive campaign against Saddam Hussein, the United States is in the middle of a complex nation-building process. During the past 18 months, however, the Bush administration handled another, possibly greater threat with amazing diplomatic maneuver. Yet few recognize the victory. Let's look at the Korean Crisis as it simmers on our back burner.
Early in the Bush Presidency, the Korean peninsula was so quiet that South Korea asked us to consider removing our troops. But when 9/11 signaled the start of a long war against terrorism, President Bush pointed out North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung was part of the "Axis of Evil." Kim took the bait and showed his hand. Believing America was vulnerable, Kim revealed he had duped Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, admitting a nuclear weapons program. Now, he threatened to use nukes to stop American "hostile policies," fend off South Korean threats, and take on the evil Japanese.
It wasn't a bad gamble. The last time North Korea rattled the nuclear saber, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter capitulated like frightened Cub Scouts listening to scary campfire stories. Clinton gave North Korea free oil, food and light water nuclear technology in exchange for a promise to stop playing with nuclear toys. Kim agreed, a bargain any fool knew he'd never keep. This time, Kim threatened all sorts of trouble. And after 9/11, George Bush was in a theoretically weakened position.
But Bush has performed a master stroke. Recognizing a nuclear loose cannon in North Korea is a far greater threat to China than the United States, Bush simply ignored Kim. This warned all surrounding nations: they had a direct stake in the outcome. Suddenly, South Korea asked us to stick around. Japan is now seriously considering a nuclear defense. And the last thing China wants is a greater American presence, a better armed North Korea, and six nuclear neighbors (Russia, Pakistan, India, North Korea, South Korea, Japan). The more nukes in the neighborhood, the less valuable China's Loral-guided fleet of ICBMs, which protects its Pacific expansionist designs, becomes.
China, supplying energy and food to North Korea's failed communist economy, is in a unique position to rope in their crazed ally. Wisely, they waited to observe Bush in action. But this week, after our decisive victory and Bush's firm commitment in Iraq, China took the reins in the Korean discussions, essentially telling Kim to knock it off. At that moment, George Bush had his brilliant diplomatic victory.
By doing absolutely nothing, the burden of keeping Kim in line defaults to China in perpetuity, and rallies our friends. North Korea began by threatening the United States, but Bush maneuvered China into the dirty work and made them pay the price. Diplomacy doesn't get any sweeter than that. And there's another benefit: As China grudgingly pays Kim's debts, they admit communist failure while the whole world watches.
And what sweet revenge! On the 50th anniversary of the divided stalemate created when a million Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River, George Bush has hung the massive North Korean stone around China's neck, the last-place ribbon in a high-stakes gamble.
It all goes back to President Bush's decisive military action and commitment to victory. Funny, Bush set the war dogs on Saddam Hussein, and the world's bad guys suddenly became "cooperative." Syria kicked out Uday Hussein! . Iran got more enthusiastic about getting inspected. Al Qaeda is still homeless. Saif al-eslam Gadhafi (Moammar's son) asked the United States to bury the hatchet with Libya. And after Uday and Qusay got their 50-caliber enema, China kicked Kim Il Sung back into the doghouse.
North Korea played the same trick on two presidents. Clinton had far better position and lost. Despite much worse position, Bush gained diplomatic advantage. This proves fighting wisely from a modest position can bring more success than capitulating from a strong position. As Sun Tzu noted, "To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. The victories won by a master of war gain him neither reputation for wisdom nor merit for courage." Of course, the pundit class appeasers are behind the curve, still wondering what George Bush intends to do about North Korea. They can't comprehend victory without a big photo-op signing ceremony with flags, papers and pens flying about. Meanwhile, the battle has been won, without a shot.
Like Reagan, Bush will receive no credit for a brilliant victory nobody recognizes. But then again, they rarely do.
A man identified as a former North Korean missile scientist told a U.S. Senate hearing on May 20 that more than 90 percent of the components used in Pyongyang's missile program were smuggled in from Japan.
The man, who has assumed the name Lee Bok Koo, said the parts were smuggled out by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun) aboard a passenger-cargo ship that plies between Niigata in Japan and Wonsan in North Korea.
He also said he was deeply involved in test-firing Pyongyang's missiles in Iran.
"I worked for nine years as an expert in the guidance system for the North Korean missile industry, and I can tell you definitely that over 90 percent of these parts come from Japan,'' Lee said. "The way they bring this in is through ... the North Korean association inside Japan, and they bring it by ship every three months."
In Tokyo, Chongryun denied the man's allegation as groundless, claiming that the ship "legitimately transports export goods and humanitarian aid supplies based on Japan's laws."
Lee was one of two men identified as high-ranking North Korean defectors who spoke at the Senate session. Led into the hearing wearing black hoods, they spoke from behind a screen to conceal their identities.
Lee's compatriot, identified only as defector No. 1, said he was a former high-level government official in the reclusive state.
"North Korea must be the only country on Earth to run a drug production-trafficking business at the state level," he said.
He alleged that the North Korean government, desperate for hard currency, produced large quantities of heroin and methamphetamines.
Opium is sent to a pharmaceutical plant in Chungjin city where it is "processed and refined into heroin under the supervision of seven to eight drug experts from Thailand," he said. "This is all done under the direct control and supervision of the central government."
Shukan ST: May 30, 2003
(C) All rights reserved
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.