A Win For North Korea

For those who are interested in the current peace talks between North and South Korea, it would be helpful if they read about them with some perspective about the U.S. role.

For more than six years the Bush administration has been attacking the North Korean government, listing them among the axis of evil, and saber rattling while the North Koreans have postured their nuclear power plants and sent missles out over the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Now, with seeming surprise, there is talk that America will promise not to undertake an aggressive war against North Korea in return for the North’s promise to stop its nuclear endeavor. Shades of remarkability, is this not the same proposal that President Clinton made nearly a decade ago. And was it not seen then as a “win” for North Korea.

Well, that is because it is. I don’t usually buy all that Bruce Cumings says about the Korean War, but he is sure on the mark in his recent comments when he explains just how much of a win it is for the North.

North Korean Economy: http://nkeconwatch.com
Roundup: Historian. http://hnn.us/roundup/1.html#44102

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

54 Years and Counting

On the 27th of July we will mark the 54th year since the end of the Korean War. After three years of fighting and two years and 17 days of talks, the opposing armies finally agreed to a cease fire. A joint policy statement issued by the United Nations pledges to uphold the armistice, and states that any violation will result in a renewal of the war.

During these fifty-four years, of course, there have been many breaches, more than 40,000 according to the federal government. But both sides have worked to prevent it from breaking out into another conflict. The Korean Military Armistice Commission, which was to meet and settle outstanding differences, did not last long. No political settlement has been reached. Constant effort has been made by institutions and individuals to bring about some sort of a peace settlement, but that has proven to be impossible.

What will it take to breach this break in the natural Korean state? Can this generation’s crop of leaders accomplish some sort of “first step” toward solving the potential conflict?

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards