August 14, 2009, HongKyung Ko(Peace Network Intern)

On August 10 2009, an article written by Henry A. Kissinger, “North Korea's Nuclear Blackmail," was posted on major networks, including Washington Post and New York Times, bringing attention from millions of readers across the oceans. Written by the prominent strategist - and also the former national security advisor - surely it should project a no-brainer substance in predicting what will happen to a nuclear-armed North Korea in near future. Consecutive US consensus likely consents to the view.

However, a few points in Mr Kissinger's article appears to be off-balanced in wording and objectivity that not all intellectual readers will look over.

First of all, it should be clearly understood that two American journalists were jailed because they had illegally crossed the border of North Korea. Indeed, 12 years of labor could be inadequately harsh sentencing for just crossing the border. Yet, the tone of the article suggesting that two young journalists had been freed from the brutal North Korea does not vindicate the fact that the women violated the laws of North Korea. In the same sense, referring the event to "a hostage situation" is a biased term, neglecting North Korea's sovereignty as a nation.

Regarding North Korea's "provocative actions" against US and UN security council resolutions, yes, "the context matters." In the agreement made in Feb. 2007, US promised to lift the ban on the North Korean account in BDA(Banco Delta Asia) within 30 days, in accordance to the shutdown of the North Korea's nuclear facilities in Yong-Byun. But North Korea did not shut down the facilities because US did not fulfilled the promise within the appointed date. Later when US removed the financial blockade, North Korea immediately carried on their part of the agreement.

To US administrations, North Korea's nuclear blackmailing has been a pain in the neck. Many claims that US has to stop North Korea from making nuclear threat to get attention along with the international aid. But the real reason why North Korea acts provocatively rather lies behind dullness of US diplomacy. In September 19 Joint Statement, US ensured "no intention to attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons." But US has continuously put pressure on North Korea, executing Operation Plan 5029 to attack North Korea in case of emergency.

Also, US has been putting a discrimination on North Korea regarding the use of space for peaceful purpose. When North Korea launched its satellite in last April, US brought the issue to the UN security council to prohibit North Korea from launching the satellite. The Joint Statement stresses "a spirit of mutual respect and equality" throughout the written agreement. Presuming the above cases didn't happen, wouldn't have North Korea's "provocative actions" been prevented?

Since North Korea has been trying to develop nuclear weapon back in early 1990's, US has struggled to denuclearize North Korea in both hard and soft ways. Different US administration have tried to communicate with North Korea, but what they have tried to communicate never has been changed. If the current US-North Korea relationship lasts for rest of the Obama administration, neither side will get what it wants.

In order to achieve denuclearization of Korean peninsula, US should discard their dichotomous policy toward North Korea that has enforced unitary standard of Pax Americana to a inferior nation. US has been prepossessed with the impression of North Korea as villain, and has aggressively overreacted on everything North Korea attempted to do for its own benefit and security. North Korea had to go against US, launch missiles, and execute nuclear bomb tests. Just as any other nations would seek, North Korea wanted to be recognized as a sovereign nation.

Now Mr Kissinger claims North Korea is approaching the consolidating phase to divert US; "Pyong-Yang undoubtedly will continue to seek to achieve de facto acceptance as a nuclear weapons state by endlessly protracted diplomacy." Yes, this can be "exactly what happened after the last Korean nuclear weapons test in 2006," if US is preoccupied with such idea. As long as US insists its own prejudice in negotiating with North Korea, Denuclearization of Korean peninsula will never be achieved. A Self-fulfilling prophecy is in effect. North Korea will be just as good as US count on it to be.