N. Korea Demands Talks With U.S. (from ATSNN)

After North Korea announced they have nuclear weapons, they now DEMAND that the US participate in bilateral talks seeking massive aid, diplomatic recognition, an end to economic sanctions, and a nonaggression treaty with the United States. Bush is a big proponant of the six nation talks which include China but North Korea now says they are only interested in direct talks with the United States.



South Korea is urging the U.S. to not be too hasty before jumping through North Korea's hoops. Apparently Pyongyang has done this kind of DEMAND tactics before.

The U.S. doesn't need to be pushed around, but the U.S. needs to take this threat very seriously. I hope it will be addressed diplomatically rather than aggressively. Though GWB has been known to use the "my gun barrel is bigger than yours" tactic in the past rather than choose the the calmer, more peaceful path.

Who cares what the adjective supposedly used was?

It's a call for talks isn't it?

Surely that is 'a good thing,' right?

It's funny. The US won't talk directly because the issue with NK is considered a "regional" issue. Therefore, the other nations must be involved. There has to be another reason for the US not wanting to speak directly to NK.
You would think that if the US wanted to just end this whole thing they would speak to NK first and then get into multinational talks, but maybe that's too simple?

Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
Who cares what the adjective supposedly used was?

It's a call for talks isn't it?

Surely that is 'a good thing,' right?

THe fact that we will get them to the table is a good thing.

Unfortunatly, it is pretty clear that they are basicaly going to try and black mail the US into doing what it wants by using it's nuclear leverage.

If I were the president, I would not listen to the untill they agreed that they would give up all nuclear weapons and ambitions and allow the US full inspection at their discretion.

Originally posted by SupaFly
You would think that if the US wanted to just end this whole thing they would speak to NK first and then get into multinational talks, but maybe that's too simple?

Why should we talk to them? Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter negotiated a deal with the a**holes in 1994. The North Koreans decided to ignore the terms of the agreement and develop nukes. Now they are like a little kid screaming for attention. The problems the N.Koreans have are their own doing.

That being said, Clinton is the main reason why we have the problem with them today. How can you make a treaty without setting up any way to verify that they really were following the rules. What a mess.

It could be just a big bluff. Bush keeps saying, "You got nukes. You got nukes." And no denials from N.Korea are believed.

Maybe they figured they might as well bluff and see if they can get some leverage out of it. Since everyone seems to be convinced they have nuclear weapons, a ruse like that would go without a hitch.

Ludicrous you say? Well, Stalinist regimes aren't particulaly known for their ability to play straight or speak the truth. Who knows what's going through Krazy Kim Jong's mind?

Why the heck should we give them money for making nuclear weapons. The last time we gave them money not to build the things and they did anyway.

So what then they can just build a few more nukes rattle a few sabers whenever they need money again

I would rather the US try to make a deal with China to keep N Korea in check. They cant really play these games with China.