The Alliance Is Over

It doesn’t get much more official than this. First, the Korean verion; then, the U.S. version. Alliances are based on common values and interests. It’s pretty obvious that the U.S. and South Korea can’t even agree on the facts. The Korea Herald must have worked pretty hard to find an American toady to support its “the U.S. needs Korea” delusion; I can’t find anyone of like mind in this entire town.

The greatest gulf in U.S. and Korean realities seems to be to what extent the U.S. needs an alliance with Korea. Since our strategy for North Korea is unlikely to involve a foray across the DMZ, there isn’t much need for the kind of alliance we have now. What we really need is air and naval power in the region, and not the conventional bomb-dropping kind (except as a deterrent, of course). We also need a means to influence thinking on the ground in North Korea, and the extent of that is an unknowable.

Obviously, it would be easier to overthrow the Great Pumpkin with the help of the South Koreans, but neither their assistance nor their cooperation is any more essential than China’s. In fact, our main policy goal in South Korea should be focused on getting out the word about the oppression and misery in the North through the South Korean media. Hey, the same tactics worked pretty well for Kim Jong-Il in getting out his message. If using the eminently corruptible South Korean media and academia could pave the way for South Korea to tacitly host a North Korean resistance, great. If not, there’s always the Chinese border region. China couldn’t stop it, and it might be just the ticket to pressure China into getting serious about removing Kim Jong-Il from power.

Which brings up this disturbing story, a new report that China is actively cooperating in helping North Korea make and sell WMD. Sort of confirms my suspicion that China is using North Korea to divert U.S. attention, and to gain leverage against the U.S. on Taiwan and other matters.