A conflict between the United States and North Korea could have disastrous consequences. North Korea and neighboring countries, namely China and Japan, could be pushed into an arms race if North Korea continues its nuclear weapons program. A war with the United States would be costly and heavy loss of life would be certain. In the worst-case scenario, North Korea could use a weapon of mass destruction on one of its neighbors, or even the United States.
A conflict with North Korea, however, can and will almost surely be avoided.
Kim Jong Il, the North Korean dictator, has often been compared to Joseph Stalin for his operation of a communist regime, and his lack of concern for the goodwill of his people. While North Koreans live in excruciating poverty and starvation, Jong Il lives a life of gluttony. He reportedly has over $4 billion in personal Swiss bank accounts.
An estimated 2 million people have died from starvation in the last decade, most of which was under the rule of North Korea’s “Dear Leader.” If not for extensive aid from the United States, the numbers would be much greater.
Several weeks ago, North Korea announced that it has resumed operation of some of its nuclear facilities, which prompted the United States to stop the supply of much needed fuel to North Korea, which in turn led to North Korea’s expulsion of international inspectors and withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Today, North Korea threatens to turn the United States into a “sea of flames” if the United States does not meet its demands.
Of course, Jong Il is no more capable of turning the United States into a sea of flames than he is of providing for and responsibly leading his people. Kim Jong Il only cares about himself and his own glory.
President Bush was criticized for saying that he wouldn’t negotiate with the country or reward “bad behavior.” He reversed his policy last week, saying that he would consider resuming fuel and food aid to North Korea if they would promise to disarm.
A similar situation occurred between the United States and North Korea almost nine years ago. The reopening of North Korean nuclear facilities was averted in exchange for aid from the United States in the form of food and more fuel for energy. The results will almost surely be the same when the negotiating is through this time.
Bush is able to swallow his pride and act morally, which is much more than can be said for Jong Il. Bush can afford to negotiate because he leads the richest, most powerful country in the world. While Jong Il is the ruthless leader of a country on the verge of collapse, a good possibility exists that he would follow through with his threats of violence, even though they would surely result in massive retaliation from a number of countries.
All of his threats and bad choices do keep him on the negotiating table with the United States. They also keep his people starving with no real relief in sight and his country in shambles facing a severe energy crisis.
As long as Jong Il maintains his destructive policies his country will remain in dire poverty and the reunification of the Korean peninsula will be indefinitely hopeless.
In the meantime, the United States will forge and reforge disarmament treaties, and supply the North Korean people with the only food and energy they can hope for.
Josh Foreman is a junior communication major.