Russia: N.Korea Could Be Bigger Threat Than Iraq

Reuters News Wire ^ | Sun February 9, 2003 10:53 AM ET | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Sunday North Korea may pose a greater threat than Iraq and that he hoped the crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear program could be resolved peacefully.

"My personal judgment is that the potential threat stemming from that part of the world can potentially outweigh what we are witnessing in Iraq," Ivanov told a news conference on the fringes of a major security conference in Munich.

"We want as a minimum for the situation to revert to the status quo as it was a few months ago," he said, speaking through a translator. "We reject any attempts to exert military pressure on a sovereign state."

"We are convinced that these problems can be resolved through political, diplomatic and economic means."

Russia is the only power in the G8 group of industrialized nations that has good relations with both North and South Korea.

North Korea has said it will talk only to Washington about the nuclear crisis and has demanded that the United States sign a non-aggression pact.

U.S. officials say it would be difficult to offer such a treaty, which the U.S Senate would need to ratify.

North Korea accused the United States Sunday of seeking to stifle the communist country with plans to boost troops stationed in and near the Korean peninsula as part of a possible war against Iraq.

The crisis was sparked in October when the United States, which has bracketed North Korea with Iraq and Iran in an "axis of evil," said Pyongyang had admitted developing nuclear arms.

Pyongyang later ejected U.N. nuclear inspectors, removed seals from a mothballed reactor and pulled out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Last month Russia sent an envoy to North Korea to propose that it return to international agreements on its nuclear programs and discuss the issues with other governments in exchange for security guarantees and a resumption of humanitarian and economic aid.

"There is currently a flurry of diplomatic activity," said Ivanov, who added he hoped a "coalition of the willing" -- including North and South Korea, the United States, China and Russia -- could solve the crisis together.

[Starrgaizr]

Hmm. Then we'll need more bombers or bigger bombs.

[Jewels1091]

From what I hear, Russia and China aren't in a big hurry to settle Korea down, wonder why is that??

[Mr. Mojo]

"We are convinced that these problems can be resolved through political, diplomatic and economic means."

Translation: appeasement, and giving in to extortion.

[McGavin999]

Ivanov, who added he hoped a "coalition of the willing" -- including North and South Korea, the United States, China and Russia --

Tell you what Ivan, why don't you and China take care of North Korea and we'll take care of Iraq. IMHO Russia and China are the authors of the NK problem. There is NO reason why the US should be drug into the problem, it's not our region of the world, it doesn't really impact us but Iraq does.

[Anti-Bolshevik]

"Possibly" a bigger threat?

Iran & N. Korea are just two of the countries who are larger threats to our national security than Iraq.

This is not news.

[jwalsh07]

Now I am utterly convinced that Putin is on the DNC distribution list. And to think I had high hopes for that guy.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

George W. (Indiana) Bush to Putin "the pusillanimous".......

North Korea.very dangerous!

You go first!

[DoughtyOne]

We simply cannot allow North Korea to have the bomb and a vehicle to deliver it to our shores. If China and Russia can't understand this, then we do have a problem. North Korea is going to get it's ass kicked if it keeps this up. It may get messy, but it would be a whole lot more messy if given five to ten years to ferment.

[DoughtyOne]

Don't write him off completely. Keep a warry eye on him, but Russia isn't stupid. They don't want China becoming emboldened via North Korea.

[jwalsh07]

North Korea is not a threat to the United States directly. They are a threat to 38,000 of our soldiers.

Iran is ready to fall of it's own weight. Iraq falling will embolden those who are sick of the mullahs and wish a return to secualr government.

And as an aside, the terrorists who have been using Americans for target practice for the past 15 years do not look like Kim Jong Il, they look like Saddam Hussein.

[jwalsh07]

One thing I hate is hypocrisy and Chechnya spells hypocrisy for Putin.

[McGavin999]

Me too jwalsh, I was all for a US/Russian friendship, looks like I was really taken in by Putin afterall. I was looking forward to a future that would benefit both people, lifting up the Russians to a prosperity they've never known before (except for the czars).

[C210N]

I suspect had it been N. Korea that all this time we
were moving to get to disarm or face forced disarmament,
it would be Iraq now acting up, trying to stir things up,
to get us to not bother their Arms suppliers in NKorea. And
it would be Russia/China/France/China saying... "Whoa,
US, Iraq is a bigger problem than NK!"

[marron]

If North Korea is the greater threat, then perhaps Russia is going to step forward and do the right thing, since Korea is a lot closer to Russia than the US.

Korea is a problem for its neighbors, which are Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea. We are concerned, too, and we will get to it as soon as we can. If thats not soon enough for our friends, then perhaps they can pitch in and help.

[DoughtyOne]

Let me ask you a question. If you were Russia, moved toward a Republic which we said we wanted them to do for decades, then saw us court it's evil twin sister and basicly ignore Russia, what would your gutt response be? I think we have fu__ed up so badly that I don't believe I blame Putin much at all.

[Anti-Bolshevik]

"North Korea is not a threat to the United States directly. They are a threat to 38,000 of our soldiers."

With respect sir, this is casuistry. The North Koreans -- who HAVE nuclear weapons -- have openly boasted that they will sell their emerging nuclear stockpile to the highest bidder.

"Iran is ready to fall of it's own weight."

No, Iran is on the verge of completing it's nuclear facility in Bushehr. Iran is at a similar point as Iraq was in 1981 -- before the Israeli's courageously took out the Iraqi nuclear reactor (while being condemned by the U.S. at the time). In my view, nuclear weapons are our biggest threat, and Iraq is no where close to obtaining those weapons in contrast to terrorist Iran and North Korea.

"Iraq falling will embolden those who are sick of the mullahs and wish a return to secualr government."

I disagree. Having Saddam removed from power and replaced with Iranian friendly entities would create an Iranian-Iraqi alliance that would multiply the terrorist threat in the Middle East 100 fold.

The ongoing Iranian-Iraqi conflict is a blessing to the Untied States. It will be dissolved if the Americans take out Saddam. I fear the eventual consequences.

[DoughtyOne]

Expand on that a little will you. I think we're on the same page, but need more information.

[goodnesswins]

Ah...distractions, distractions....we'll get to N. Korea in time.....Puti

[TLBSHOW]

Once a commie always a commie! The east pretended all these years to be at peace. Instead they have built up a military spread all over the world. Including South America. Throught smoke and mirrors which Clinton helped with.