In an op-ed in the Washington Post Mike Mullen and Sam Nunn have proposed a multi-point plan for responding to the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea capable of striking the United States. Among the points in their plan are:
- Make addressing of the “North Korean threat” a high priority.
- Offer incentives to North Korea to participate in talks.
- Increase sanctions.
- Increase cooperation among the U. S., South Korea, and Japan.
Given past experience with North Korea, I would think that some skepticism about North Korean intentions and the effectiveness of any agreement with the regime would be warranted.
However, this more practical suggestion was what caught my eye:
We also recommend that the United States and its allies jointly build the capacity to intercept all missiles originating from North Korea with a range-payload capability greater than existing Scud missiles (approximately 1,000 kilometers) — whether they are declared to be ballistic missile tests or civil space launch vehicles.
which is strikingly similar to proposals I’ve made in the past.
I also think that the Japanese interest in defanging North Korea should not be underestimated. Any North Korean missile that’s a threat to us is a much more immediate threat to the Japanese.
Sadly, given the rhythm and tempo of American politics, it’s unlikely that we’ll do anything substantial over the period of the next six months. That may go some way to explaining why the North Koreans appear to have increased the tempo of their provocations.
Shooting down any missile launched from North Korea would be an act of war, and we would have the dubious honor of starting it.
Over the last 25 years, since the fall of the Soviet Union, the US and its allies have invaded numerous countries and overthrown governments in the Balkans, North, East and Central Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. We have destroyed dozens of large cities, killed directly or indirectly hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions of people.
And you, Nunn and the neocons think North Korea is the problem?
Isn’t this the same old nonsense we’ve been trying since Bill Clinton first lied to us and told us he’d ‘solved’ North Korea? Just another one of Mr. Bill’s ‘gifts’ to America.
Bribing North Korea doesn’t work, agreements don’t work, sanctions won’t work.
That’s because China, historically very protective of its ‘near abroad’ (and with good reason) is propping up the Kims as a secure border guardian and as a convenient pit bull to unleash periodically whenever they need to shake things up.
Want to really end the Nork threat? Make clear to China that while we don’t mind them having a regime in power to guard their border, continuing to prop up the Kims and their nuclear arsenal is going to be a lot more costly to them financially than it’s worth.
I agree with Rob Miller that largely what we need to do is let the Chinese government know that we consider the NorKs THEIR problem, and that anything the NorKs do will be considered the responsibility of China. If the NorKs ever dare launch a missile at us or our Allies, we will consider that the Chinese ordered it.
Sadly, given the rhythm and tempo of American politics, it’s unlikely that we’ll do anything substantial over the period of the next six months.
We have much more important things to do in the next six months, such as formulate policy responses to cartoon frog trolling. Little things like nuclear Armageddon will just have to wait.
Feels good, man!
Query- If you are the Chinese managing NJ are you happy with what they are doing? Clearly you have a mess on your border but they occupy a lot of time, attention and money on our part.
Steve
So is shooting missiles into the EEZs of other countries. Or building artificial islands in them.
FWIW, back in February, the Japanese issued orders to shoot down North Korea missiles that posed a threat. However, UPI cites the Japanese press as saying, Japan’s command to destroy North Korea missiles failed, reports say.
BTW, read up on EEZ and territorial waters, within 12 miles of the shore, stray aircraft/missiles are fair game, outside, not so much. Also remember because of geography, most of South Korea’s population and industry is vulnerable to those many artillery pieces North Korea has on the DMZ.
Moving the Korea higher in the in basket sounds reasonable as does building the capability to track and destroy North Korea’s artillery and missile force.