It appears that China has no idea how to reel in its insane neighbor that gives “communist totalitarianism” a really bad name. It’s just not going to happen because China is simply not up to the task, diplomatically or militarily. Sooner or later North Korea will be able to lob a messy and deadly nuclear device onto South Korea or Japan and then what will everyone say and do? Or if it flies off in the wrong direction, it could end up on Chinese soil.
There have been some recommendations that the world should ignore President Kim Jong-Il and his crazy followers. Jong-Il is playing for a confrontation and no amount of passivity or restraint is going to deter this madman. Ignoring a pimple on one’s face is rational because it will eventually cure itself. However it is not reasonable to ignore a malignant cancer. Such cancers are removed surgically and promptly – then followed by radiation treatments. It’s not productive to speak with a cancer or an insane person – it’s a complete waste of time.
China is North Korea’s largest provider of food and fuel – yet most of it goes to the Military to keep Jong-Il in power, and the rest of the country struggles in abject poverty – with hundreds of thousands having fled into China for refuge. There is a fear that if Jong-Il is deposed, the power vacuum would lead to national disintegration. So would that be much worse than the current situation for the vast majority of the population? There are actually tens of millions of people who know the culture and language and operate a very progressive and modern country. They are found directly next door in South Korea.
We have to make a permanent multi-lateral deal with China. The U.S. would support full reunification of Taiwan and China in exchange for China deposing of Jong-Il and immediately unifying the country with a demilitarized South Korea. Then all the North Korean refugees could return to the unified Korea and China could have normal trade and diplomatic relations with the new Korea. Korea, China and the U.S would jointly dismantle the entire military and nuclear facilities of the former North and only maintain what is necessary for civilian nuclear power. South Korea could be largely demilitarized and most U.S. forces would leave as part of the deal. China could also retain about 100 kilometers of oceanfront and inland territory of the former North Korea including the port city of Najin that is part of its Northeast Corner adjacent to Russia. In this way China could have direct civilian and naval access to the Sea of Japan. Koreans living in this small Northeastern zone would be resettled elsewhere in Korea if the area is transferred to Chinese control.
If China won’t bite on such a great multilateral demilitarizing deal for the entire Korean peninsula, then the U.S. should itself commence a massive bombing campaign on North Korea’s military and nuclear facilities, and all locations where its leadership could be found during a sustained period of 3 to 4 days. We would only stop when we are sure that all things of military or nuclear significant are obliterated, and that Kim Jong-Il, his son and successor, and all their supporting military forces are killed.
The ensuing power vacuum would be China’s problem to clean up. We could suggest South Korea volunteer to take over the North but that would still be China’s call. We could still hold out de-militarization of the peninsula only if there is complete reunification of the two Koreas that would be free to hold its own multi-party elections wholly independent of any outside control or influence.
Those fearful that China would retaliate militarily against the US are not thinking things through. China is one of America’s largest creditors and it cannot render worthless its vast holdings of U.S. debt and huge dollar reserves in its banks. Furthermore the U.S. is not attacking any Chinese people or lands. It is instead relieving China of a major headache and embarrassment, plus eliminating a potential nuclear nation that is clearly not sane enough to be part of the world’s nuclear club with China and the U.S.
There are times to when it is necessary to strong-arm other countries into doing what’s in their own best interests and that of the entire world. And if that is not successful, then we simply have to use our military power in the best interests of our Country. All the lofty words we issue must ultimately be backed up by concrete actions, or else the U.S. risks being viewed as a paper tiger that no one on the planet would respect.
By Marc Pascal Phoenix, AZ.