President-elect Donald Trump has spoken repeatedly of the need to “do more” about North Korea, and analysts are saying this will likely run into a major obstacle, as one of his other major goals has been to start a trade war with China.
The problem is US officials say anything they “do” to North Korea as heavily dependent on China, one of the few nations with any real influence over the isolated nation, and China is unlikely to be too eager to do anything to back US efforts if they are in the middle of a trade war.
North Korea’s actual “danger” is somewhat disputed, as despite some underground nuclear tests it’s not wholly clear how close they are to having a deliverable weapon. While the US policy toward North Korea has been to continue increasing sanctions to punish them, while demanding that they unconditionally abandon their nuclear program.
While China isn’t happy with North Korea’s nuclear program, or happy with them in general, their goal is largely to prevent a wholesale collapse of the North Korean government, out of concerns that it would create a massive influx of refugees into China.
This means getting China to “do more” in the US perspective is difficult, but the chances of any cooperation shrink even more dramatically if US-China relations begin to seriously worsen.
Just think if Bonkers Bolton had not back in the Bush days convinced George to stop supplying the fuel oil that was part of the Clinton reactor closure deal!
Lift sanctions as they are an act of war and affect citizenry not leaders. Sanctions that targeted chlorine as a dual use chemical in Iraq in the 90’s killed a million people.
Sovereign nations have the right to pursue whatever weapons programs they desire.
Respect NK’s sovereignty. Lift sanctions. Good relations.
Quite the options on the daily to-do list:
1. Initiate trade war with China, triggering global economic collapse, or
2. Provoke nuclear war with North Korea.
Good thing we now have a sober, thoughtful, responsible President, surrounded by capable and accomplished experts in diplomacy. Otherwise things might get nasty.