protectionist
Diamond Member
- Oct 20, 2013
- 59,616
- 20,185
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I'm sure everyone in the US and perhaps other countries also, would rest easier if North Korea were to drop its entire nuclear establishment. What about how the North Koreans would feel about it, though. I would guess that what prompted them to build up the rather sophisticated system they have was fear. That is fear of the unknown, at the very least.
Looking at things as they are now, I feel a lot better about North Korea than I did about a year ago, and better then than when Obama was president. Relations have certainly gotten better. I'm thinking though that Kim Jong Un and other North Korean leaders are looking at all of this from a long term perspective. Kim is less than 30 years old. He could possibly live another 70 years.
Whatever good relations may exist now for the North Koreans with President Trump, in 6 years we will have a new president. In 10 years, a 3rd US president. And in possibly 14 years, a 4th US president. Right now no one in America or North Korea can predict who these future presidents may be, much less what their foreign policies may be like.
To be really secure for his nation, wouldn't it be better for Kim to retain his nukes, so as to not be vulnerable to attack from the US, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, or any other nuclear power nation ? Wouldn't being denuclearized, remove this inherent protection ?
Suppose that North Korea had much more nuclear arms than they do, and it was the USA that was denuclearized. How would Americans sit with that ? (while the Russians, Chinese, etc still are nuclear powers)
I don't think that Kim and the North Koreans are ever going to denuclearize, and from their standpoint and perspective, to properly protect their nation, they really shouldn't. I have to say that this is one issue that I'm not sure if I'm on the same page with Trump on it. Unless Trump is not expecting denuclearization, but is just using that as a bargaining maneuver of sorts.
Looking at things as they are now, I feel a lot better about North Korea than I did about a year ago, and better then than when Obama was president. Relations have certainly gotten better. I'm thinking though that Kim Jong Un and other North Korean leaders are looking at all of this from a long term perspective. Kim is less than 30 years old. He could possibly live another 70 years.
Whatever good relations may exist now for the North Koreans with President Trump, in 6 years we will have a new president. In 10 years, a 3rd US president. And in possibly 14 years, a 4th US president. Right now no one in America or North Korea can predict who these future presidents may be, much less what their foreign policies may be like.
To be really secure for his nation, wouldn't it be better for Kim to retain his nukes, so as to not be vulnerable to attack from the US, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, or any other nuclear power nation ? Wouldn't being denuclearized, remove this inherent protection ?
Suppose that North Korea had much more nuclear arms than they do, and it was the USA that was denuclearized. How would Americans sit with that ? (while the Russians, Chinese, etc still are nuclear powers)
I don't think that Kim and the North Koreans are ever going to denuclearize, and from their standpoint and perspective, to properly protect their nation, they really shouldn't. I have to say that this is one issue that I'm not sure if I'm on the same page with Trump on it. Unless Trump is not expecting denuclearization, but is just using that as a bargaining maneuver of sorts.
