Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Thomas Semanic
2-7-18
Dr. Muck

North & South Korea Relations


            Kim Jong Un is sending is his sister to South Korea to attend the winter Olympics. This will be the first time that anybody is setting foot into South Korea from Kim Jong Un’s immediate family. This is just another sign after the two sides discussed competing in the Olympics under the same flag that the tensions between them are thawing a bit after not really talking at all for the last two years. However, this can also cause a little rift within the United states because they do not trust North Korea’s intentions at all. They want to have talks where they can determine pre-conditions regarding their nuclear program. The United States is very upset with the actions North Korea have conducted against their own people, committing murder and basically enslaving their people under a totalitarian regime. Mike Pence the Vice President of the United States will also be attending the winter Olympics and indicated he would be open to talks with North Korean officials who would be attending. Pence was opened to the idea to schedule a meeting with North Korean officials but was unsure of the certainty of it.
            I love the idea of both South Korea and the United States having conversations with North Korea. That would be a small step forward and a sign of diplomatic progress. Regarding South Korea, I think it is important with them to ease tensions with North Korea because they do not want problems at the Olympics and they are worried they are the first targeted if North Korea were to use their nuclear weapons. The more they talk the better things are in my opinion. They can begin to negotiate and maybe reach a compromise, that would be the best scenario. If the United States were to begin to talk to North Korea that would also be fantastic. These two sides can also hopefully begin to negotiate and ease tensions just as South Korea could. Especially after all the twitter nonsense and aggressive rhetoric from both sides, this could be a chance for level heads to come together and have a productive conversation about whatever the sides would like to talk about initially.
            I do not want Donald Trump talking to North Korea! Have the Executive branch send anybody else but him or his more extremist advisor Miller whom we have discussed in class. Mike Pence, Rex Tillerson, James Mattis, or Nikki Haley. Would be fine individuals who would have cool heads and will know how to attempt to de-escalate tensions with North Korea. I want the United States to do what we did with Iran. As much as people do not like the Iran-Nuclear Deal, especially our President I would argue that we need one desperately with North Korea. It would be fantastic, even for a period of time like ten years to get North Korea to get rid of some of their nuclear weapons and to stop enriching their uranium. The problem is North Korea is a more worse regime than Iran and some in the United States are dying to pass economic sanctions against Iran because they have not done good things. North Korea has killed their own people and have restricted their citizens to complete totalitarianism, some would even say enslavement. Donald Trump and his administration are ready now to unveil extremely aggressive economic sanctions. It is tough because I want to punish North Korea but, I also want to relieve tensions as best we can because the idea of having a war with North Korea is scary. Those people have been brainwashed and I think would act similarly to the Japanese in World War II, they would simply not give up not even to mention the destruction of nuclear weapons that we did not see with Russia during the Cold War.  That is why I think a deal similar to the Iran Nuclear Deal would be so effective.
            Will this happen at the winter Olympics, absolutely not. I would be shocked if Mike Pence had a conversation with North Korean officials. I am okay with the idea that South Korea continues to talk to North Korea as long as South Korea sticks with us and the interest we want. If South Korea begins to stray and give in to North Korea regarding our alliance, policy, or nuclear weapons then we got a huge problem. Nevertheless, I do not think that will happen. Let us continue to work with South Korea to engage in talks with North Korea and hopefully after the winter Olympics, North Korea will still want to talk. Keep it small like what is happening now with marching under one united flag but, over time increase it to military tensions and nuclear weapons. North Korea is way more likely to work with South Korea than us, especially when Donald Trump is using very aggressive rhetoric and continues to call out Kim Jong Un and his regime.





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