Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[SN]

Regional security against North Korea - the Unity of five countries centering on the proposal by US

At the summit with the leader of China, Mr.Bush announced his intention that US would give a document to guarantee the sovereignty of North Korea in the multilateral framework in exchange for its suspension of its nuclear weapon development.

Although the six nation talks in order to solve the nuclear issue of North Korea peacefully was held in the end of August, the outlook of next talks is still vague. That's because North Korea is stick to the security guarantee by the US-NorthKorea non-aggression pact, insisting that US has to revise its hostle policy against North Korea. On the other hand, Japan/Korea/US insist demand that North Korea should give up the plan to develop the nuclear weapon thoroughly, inspectionablly and irreversiblly.

North Korea has never kept its bilateral agreement such as 1994 US-NorthKorea agreement on the frame work and 1992 Joint Declaration on Denuclearization. Due to those experiences, Bush administration has maintained its policy not to agree to the non-aggression treaty. If it were to agree to it, it would never be ratified by US Congress which has been getting stronger distrust against North Korea.

Essentially nuclear issue shouldn't be solved in the framework of only US and North Korea. Six nation talks is the place for that, but China which is going to mediate next talks faces rough going against the North Korea's resistance. If this deadlock continues, the talks won't be held in this year and in the worst case the conclusion of the nuclear issue might be entrusted to the UN security council.

Bush Plan was suggested at the summit between Mr.Koizumi and Mr.Bush which was held last week when Mr.Bush visited Tokyo. In order to resume the six nations talks in this year, Japan/Korea/China has asked US for flexible measure.

US threw a new plan to North Korea. The nuclea issue can affect the security and peace of entire north-eastern asia. US new plan should be accepted as a positive proposals in order to regard the solution as "North Korea vs International society".

The flexible response of Japan/South Korea/US is on the assumption that North Korea volunterly give up its nuclear development. It is also dispensable to inspect its implementation by many countries in order not to allow the loophole.

North Korea's "security guarantee" could be partly related to the Japan/US military treaty and South Korea's security and defence. In the process to materialize the proposal, those things have to be solved. In order that, North Korea has to be drew out to the talks.

In order not to allow North Korea to take advantage of unguarded moment, the unity among Japan/US/SouthKorea and China/Russia are important. They are necessary in order to put together diplomatic pressure against North Korea. North Korea has to understand that there is no means to solve the problem and to join the international society except for cooperation in the multilateral framework.

[Diana]

It seems that North Korea feels threatened by the presence of the United States in South Korea. Kim Jung II has stated several times that Washington must stop their hostile stand toward North Korea and sign a non-agression treaty with them. Although the US refuses to sign this nonagression treaty, they have stated several times that they will not attack North Korea and prefer diplomacy or talks. Perhaps, if the United States were to shut down their bases and leave South Korea, that might convince Kim Jung II that the US have no intention of attacking his country. Then perhaps, North Korea will give up their nuclear weapons program.

[SN]

Has north Korea announced that if US promise not to atack it and withdraw its troops from South Korea, Pyongyan will suspend its nuclear weapon developing?

Was it effective that South Korea had carried out its SunShine Policy and then-president Clinton had tried to flatter Pyongyang with some aids?

[Diana]

Kim Jung II has often criticized the US-South Korean military exercises saying that it's a preparation of war. The US keeps approximately 37,000 US soldiers in South Korea, and North Korea has even said that any increase in US troops or deployment to South Korea would be seen as an act of war. It is clear that North Korea sees America as a threat despite that they have already told him they prefer diplomacy. He has stated several times that he thinks the US plans to invade South Korea and that is why he wants to develop his nuclear weapons program.

Therefore, perhaps the solution would be to evacuate all 37,000 soldiers in South Korea and close down all the bases. The American soldiers can go home, and North Korea would not feel threatened. Without any US soldiers next door, there is no reason that North Korea would feel threatened by America. Without any US troops in South Korea, it's possible that North Korea will see that America actually has no intention of attacking. That's just one thought for a solution.

[genkiguy]

[Diana]

Yes, I agree that it's possible for North Korea to invade the south if America closes its base in South Korea. However, I've also heard that there are many South Koreans who are against the Americans being stationed in their country and blame the US for North Korea's attitude toward them. America already paid a price trying to contain Iraq for 12 years. They were protecting Kuwait. Is America also going to pay a price for containing North Korea? And if many South Koreans feel anti-American and blame the US for causing the problem, then don't you think it would be best for America to evacuate and leave the Korean peninsula alone?

[SN]

unfortunately i dont know well about the military power of South Korea, comparing to other countries. But North Korea has so great military power? except for nuclear weapons, it power is as much as one of Iraq,isnt it?
Is there anyone who knows about that?

And if NorthKorea invades South Korea, that will give US and UN a good reason to attack Pyongyan. And that situation is not hoped by Peking.