Kris-mas-tof in August

I went on my morning hike, fed my dogs, brewed some coffee, turned on my computer, and then had a heart attack.

Why?  Nick Kristof wrote this:

The truth is that North Korea doesn’t want to negotiate away its nuclear materials. It is focused on its own transition, and this year it has declined to accept a visit from the Obama administration’s special envoy, Stephen Bosworth. The North isn’t interested in “six-party talks” on nuclear issues; instead, it seeks talks with the U.S. conditioned on accepting North Korea’s status as a nuclear power — which is unacceptable.

During years of engagement with the G.W. Bush administration, North Korea has reneged on every single agreement and deal, has run an HEU program to which they recently admitted to, and has been proliferating missile/nuclear technology to other state sponsors of terrorism.  Critics blame the first couple of years of the G.W. Bush administration’s “axis of evil” rhetoric and lack of engagement for North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.  But they fail to point out that the North Korean regime already had nuclear ambitions/programs, since North Korea violated the Agreed Framework of 1994 shortly after it was signed.

Kristof seems to get this – by having a sense of history and current events.  Lamentably, his colleagues at the NYT do not.

He even goes into more detail about the regime’s illicit activities:

In recent months, North Korea has dismantled some economic reforms and economic cooperation projects with South Korea. Meanwhile, it continues to counterfeit U.S. $100 bills — the highest-quality goods that North Korea manufactures — and its embassies in Pakistan and other countries pay their way by smuggling drugs, liquor and currency.

He even went on to say that the US Navy should start interdicting ships!

Too bad he didn’t address victims of sex trafficking, starvation, or concentration camps…

Still, I have to disagree with Kristof again here:

There are no good options here, and a grass-roots revolution is almost impossible. North Koreans, even those in China who despise the regime, overwhelmingly agree that most ordinary North Koreans swallow the propaganda.

So North Koreans believe the only form of information available to them, therefore a grass-roots uprising is impossible?  Sigh.

Do starving North Koreans, those who don’t receive rations, swallow propaganda, too?  Do you think it might be possible that if you exposed the population to some amount of information, there might be the undercurrents of seeking self-determination?

There is a very real option that has not been fully explored here.  Information dissemination.  We have the technological capability, we don’t have American citizens in Pyongyang anymore, there are no negotiations to derail, and sanctions already serve their purpose by forcing the regime back to negotiations.  An information campaign into North Korea could also help push North Korea back to negotiations.  Now is the time to act.

Lastly, Mr. Kristof, again, please do your research:

The Obama administration is now working with allies to reimpose economic and financial sanctions that a few years ago were very successful in squeezing the North Korean regime. China is surprisingly cooperative, even quietly intercepting several shipments of supplies useful for W.M.D. programs.

China has not fully implemented UN Security Council Resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874.  China is not a substantial part of the international sanctions effort on North Korea.  China stopped a few measly shipments of vanadium.  Whoop de doo…China is also North Korea’s benefactor in oil and food aid.  What ever made you think that China would fully cooperate to sanction its client regime, I’ll never know.

The ultimate irony here is that Amb. John Bolton has been arguing this position for YEARS now – and I predict Kristof will not be shunned for his very similar opinion piece.  While many may disagree with Kristof, the comments for this op-ed will be respectful.  Read the comments section for this John Bolton op-ed…it makes me want to switch my party affiliation to the GOP.

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