Diplomacy between North Korea and the US has made major progress this year, but also has had some problems. One of the biggest sources of tension was suggestion from some US officials that North Korea should follow the “Libya model.”
Since Libya’s disarmament was followed in a few years by a NATO attack and a violent regime change with the death of Moammar Gadhafi, that wasn’t taken well by North Korea. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is now suggesting another example in Vietnam.
While this model didn’t involve any denuclearization, as with North Korea,the US fought a very bloody war with Vietnam. After the end of the Vietnam War, the US and Vietnam ultimately had a successful rapprochement, and now have close ties.
This could be an appealing model for North Korea to follow, as it would suggest both the end of the war, something North Korea has long sought in the Korean War, which began in 1950, and a rapprochement with close trade ties.
At the same time, the Vietnam example could be interpreted as a model wherein the nation defeats the US militarily, and after the US pullout, they eventually sought new ties with Vietnam which, after a couple of decades, led to trade.
The model of trying to defeat the US in a war clearly isn’t intended to be what North Korea takes from this. On the other hand, it’s not clear what action it is intended to inform North Korea to take, as they’ve already sought a peace deal to end the Korean War, and seem quite interested in having some trade internationally.
Well, they already let the US throw away nearly 34,000 of its own men and women, a couple of million between the two sides died, so they are off to a good start at reproducing the Vietnam “experience.” The key difference of course being that the US didn’t waste hundreds of millions of dollars occupying Vietnam while the two sides screwed around for 60 years.
Make that 58,000, RIP and forgive the kissing up to the gov’t that did it.
I was referring to the 34,000 thrown away in Korea, not the 58,000 thrown away in Vietnam…unless the stats I found are incorrect.
Don’t forget all the kissing up the gov’t apparently did, because apparently that matters.
Vietnam was NEVER our real enemy to begin with. We were just tools of France, their never-ending imperialism, and the rabid anti-communist sentiment that was exploited by both major parties to continue to get elected. Whether in Vietnam or Korea, our “kissing up” to the various governments, is nothing more than a means to the end of fiscal exploitation on behalf of the crony-capitalists that control our government. Lucrative contracts, behind the scenes business deals, exploitation of natural resources, etc. seem to the be the ONLY reasons our government ever “makes nice” with anyone. It sure as hell isn’t about peace….or the wars never would have started in the first place.
You’re kidding, right? Vietnam’s example includes a devastating war with the defeated US then kissing up to the victor.
The main problem with this comparison is the contrast in the respective relationships between the two and their powerful neighbor, China.
Follow the example of Vietnam? No problem, and we will immediately start evacuating American troops via helicopter from South Korea; just as we did in South Vietnam.
Just whatever you do, don’t pay any attention to the Iran Nuclear Deal…
It’s like a used car salesman trying to push a clunker.