At The Week Harry Kazianis argues that the U. S. should consider the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ICBM development programs as part of the larger set of problems in the relationship between the United States and China:
It’s time for the United States to stop separating two clear and present dangers in the Asia-Pacific region and lump them together as one problem that must be confronted immediately.
The evidence is overwhelming that a rising and defiant China, and a rogue North Korea — now armed with what appears to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM — must become Washington’s top joint foreign policy priority. Everything else — whether it’s the Islamic State, Russia, Iran, or even the horrific Syrian civil war — pales in comparison.
But before we start analyzing the dangers America and its allies face today in Asia and what to do about it, we need to know how we got here.
That makes sense. His proposal to enlarge the U. S. military footprint in the region doesn’t.
If it were up to me, I’d publicly recommend to China that they deal with North Korea and privately tell them that if they don’t we will with deadly consequences for North Korea and costly ones for China and leave it at that. Stop clutching our pearls at every new test but be prepared to act decisively if North Korea actually attacks us or our allies, attempts to blackmail us, or starts selling the technology they’ve developed. Minimalist or even proportional responses will be inadequate in dealing with North Korea. We might also want to advise the South Koreans that they should start digging.
Any attack on North Korea will lead to a full-scale Korean war that China will participate in. Russia might join in, too. They did the last time. China and North Korea possess overwhelming military superiority on the Peninsula, and they would win such a war, and impose a North Korea government on the South.
China and Russia have issued a joint statement indicating that they would support a negotiated settlement. North Korea might also be willing to cut some sort of deal, but our repudiation of our deal with Gaddafi and his murder make us an unreliable negotiation partner.
For his Kuwait invasion, Saddam Hussein thought that he could withstand the US military. Granted, the last large scale military operation was not quite a success, and he can be given some slack on thinking that the US military was not the powerhouse it turned out to be. (Those of us living in the sand for 6 months has the same doubts.)
For the Iraqi invasion 27 years later, he still thought he could win, and he was mostly sane. The Kims are cunning, but they have a tenuous grasp on reality. As with Saddam, why would they think they could lose?
Here is an idea. N. Korea is a sovereign country, and as such, they can determine their future – good or bad. The US has, can improve, or can develop the technology needed for a missile defense system. Furthermore, why should the rest of the world be required to stay up at night worrying about a drone, ship based missile, or an ICBM being shoved up their ass.
I realize we are Americans, and as such, we can do no harm. The US can run roughshod over anybody – well, anybody without nuclear capability. It is only because of the Russian nukes that the US (and the West) do not crush them.
I have been informed that, “a well armed society is a polite society.” Rather than nukes making the world more dangerous, they might make it more safe – nukes for all.