North Korea heading for diplomacy gold medal at Olympics

[webfact]

North Korea heading for diplomacy gold medal at Olympics

By Soyoung Kim and James Pearson

 

South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, in Seoul, South Korea in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) February 10, 2018. KCNA/via REUTERS

 

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - North Korea has emerged as the early favourite to grab one of the Winter Olympics' most important medals: the diplomatic gold.

 

That is the assessment of a former South Korean government minister and political experts who say the North has used the Games to drive a wedge between South Korea and its U.S. ally and to potentially ease pressure on its sanctions-crippled state.

 

In barely a month since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un surprised the world and said his nation was ready to join the Games, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has delayed military exercises, feted Kim's sister at the Pyeongchang Olympics and given conditional consent to a bilateral summit in the North.

 

"North Korea clearly appears to be winning the gold," said Kim Sung-han, who served as Korea's vice foreign minister in 2012-2013 and who now teaches at Seoul's Korea University.

 

"Its delegation and athletes are getting all the spotlight, and Kim Jong Un's sister is showing elegant smiles before the South Korean public and the world. Even for a moment, it appears to be a normal state."

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who attended Friday's opening ceremony along with the North Koreans, said "no daylight" existed between the United States, South Korea and Japan on the need to isolate North Korea.

 

He said the North was using the Games for crude propaganda.

 

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more important would be how Pyongyang behaves after the Olympics. It has shown no interest so far in negotiating over international demands to give up its nuclear and missile programs.

 

Pence cast one of the loneliest figures at the opening event. He remained seated when the joint Korean team entered the stadium, in contrast to Moon who stood along with Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to applaud.

 

NIGHTMARE FOR JAPAN?

 

The warm North-South body language not only fanned talk of a split between Seoul and Washington, it contrasted with a cold encounter between South Korea and Japan, an ally in U.S.-led efforts to pressure North Korea to end its nuclear programme.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who looked uncomfortable at times during the opening ceremony, irritated his hosts by telling the South Korean leader that joint South Korea-U.S. military drills should be promptly resumed after the Games.

 

To pave the way for the North's participation at Pyeongchang, South Korea had delayed the annual exercises with U.S. forces, which usually take place between February and March, until after the Olympics.

 

"Now is not the time to postpone U.S.-South Korea military exercises. It is important to move forward with the drills as planned," Abe said, according to South's presidential Blue House. Moon replied that it was not appropriate for Abe to have raised the issue, which he described as an internal affair.

 

Japan does not participate in the military exercises, but it is within reach of North Korean missiles and relies heavily on U.S. forces and their readiness to deal with that threat.

 

"This development could have been anticipated, but for Japan it's a nightmare scenario," said Takashi Kawakami, a professor of international politics at Takushoku University in Tokyo.

 

"North Korea is skilfully driving a wedge between the U.S., Japan and South Korea."

 

A senior Japanese defence official said North Korea's Games charm offensive could "simply be a way to gain time" until it completed its nuclear and ballistic missile development.

 

In Rome on Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said it was too early to tell whether reduced tensions between the two Koreas would last beyond the Olympics but that "on a political level in Seoul, there is no wedge that can be driven between us by North Korea."

 

Douglas Paal, a former senior U.S. diplomat under previous Republican administrations, said North Korea held the propaganda edge for now because, "It's tough not to get caught up in the emotions of an Olympics event." But he said it would be harder for Moon to keep up momentum after U.S. and Japanese allies and South Korean conservatives remind him of what is at stake in the North Korean nuclear threat.

 

SANCTIONS BITING?

 

North Korea is under a heavy U.N. sanctions regime which was originally targeted at stopping the proliferation of arms and nuclear and missile technologies, but has become more all-encompassing after its accelerated missile testing.

 

After years of ineffective implementation, those sanctions may have begun to finally bite, which, according to a Japanese government official and experts, helps explain why Kim Jong Un agreed to send a national team and his sister to the Olympics.

 

A foreign resident living in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, told Reuters he had seen fewer people in restaurants and luxury goods in shops in recent months.

 

Fuel prices have risen and more wood-fired Soviet-era trucks have been seen on the outskirts of the capital, said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity. Seafood, once a major North Korean export, was now more widely available at home after U.N. sanctions banned these exports in August.

 

When a ferry carrying North Koreans to the Games docked in South Korea last week, the North asked its hosts for the fuel needed to get it home, Seoul's Unification Ministry said. The North then withdrew its request after it asked for more fuel than Seoul was willing to provide, a Seoul official added.

 

In Pyeongchang, though, the two Koreas avoided talk of sanctions and basked instead in Olympic goodwill, which was nowhere more evident than on Saturday night when a joint Korean women's ice hockey team took to the ice.

 

It inspired an American member of the International Olympic Committee to call for the team, which included 12 North Korean players, to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

In Pyongyang, North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper also reported on the Games bonhomie, publishing photos of its ceremonial head of state clinking glasses with Moon and of the South's leader also shaking hands with a telegenic Kim Yo Jong.

 

"The people I spoke to in Pyongyang were really excited about the joint team," said Michael Spavor of the Paektu Cultural Exchange, an organisation which took a group of tourists to Pyongyang last week.

 

"They felt it had made this tense situation on the peninsula calm down a bit."

 

(Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Rome, Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Linda Sieg, Kaori Kaneko and Nobuhiro Kubo in Tokyo; Editing by Mark Bendeich and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-12

[lovelomsak]

America is being taught a lesson by the a much smaller nation. One that has the guts to take the USA on and not blink.

 America may be an ethnic mix,but Asia is Asia.

  Japan in this situation stands alone with the USA

 The tide comes in the tide goes out. This could be the tide turning point. Asia is now the as a group is the driving force of most economies. and do not need America to keep their economies going. America now can be subject to heavy pressure from Asia to do their bidding in Asia's interests not USA interest's

  North Korea is small but is the poster boy nation for how Asia feels towards the USA. And soon the USA  will be marching to the tune set by Asia. 

  Trump is the only USA leader that see's this is trying to slow it down cannot stop it now it is a run away train. But if USA listen's to Trump they can salvage some and remain some level of power.

  Asia with poster nation Korea is going  VINI VIDI VICI  

Edited February 12, 2018 by lovelomsak

[RickBradford]

Before you get all carried away with how wonderful this "poster boy" much smaller nation is, you might go and watch online captures of the execution by anti-aircraft gun of the former defence minister, for the crime of falling asleep during a meeting. Or you could read up on the story of Otto Warmbier.

 

Personally, I'll take the USA and the rest of the west, with all their many flaws, over North Korea, any day.

[lovelomsak]

11 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

Before you get all carried away with how wonderful this "poster boy" much smaller nation is, you might go and watch online captures of the execution by anti-aircraft gun of the former defence minister, for the crime of falling asleep during a meeting. Or you could read up on the story of Otto Warmbier.

 

Personally, I'll take the USA and the rest of the west, with all their many flaws, over North Korea, any day.

I would take  the USA and the rest of the world also . That is what I know and have lived with all my life.

  But reality is not what we want it is what life gives us. 

 Asia has no problem once the tide has turned showing their total lack of respect for the USA and any other nation that are not Asian. Asia has no problem kicking some one when they are down. When they see the tide has turned get ready for a good kicking.

  The poster boy will be a major player and all his effort and time will pay off.

  

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by lovelomsak

[RickBradford]

Quote

Asia has no problem once the tide has turned showing their total lack of respect for the USA and any other nation that is not Asian. Asia has no problem kicking some one when they are down.

 

Impressive. You have just dismissed one-third of the world's population as cruel racists in a mere two sentences.

[geriatrickid]

The South president is being played and he will be quite shocked when he finds that the North  goes back to nuclear weapon testing and crimes against humanity as soon as the Olympics are over.

 

It's easy to talk peace and the need for dialogue when one has the luxury of 25,000 US personnel in harm's way acting as a deterrent.  The USA should reduce its presence and let  South Korea deal with the issue on its own. Both Australia and Canada have deployed assets to assist in  documenting the Chinese and Singapore  busting of UN sanctions now going on. Yet, no one hodls China accountable. Instead both the Australian and Canadian PMS are on their knees begging the Chinese for trade and being played.

 

The next time  the South has a war it can fight it on its own. Tens of thousands of US nationals,  with hundreds each from the UK, Australia, Canada and France died to keep the South free. Now the USA and especially Canada, since the nuclear missiles will mostly likely detonate over Canada are at risk because of the madman in the North.  The South Korean's president way of repaying the sacrifice of the North Americans is to now collaborate with a despot  nation that runs concentration camps and torture  prisons.

[lovelomsak]

1 hour ago, RickBradford said:

 

Impressive. You have just dismissed one-third of the world's population as cruel racists in a mere two sentences.

Yes and your point is?

[lovelomsak]

41 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

The South president is being played and he will be quite shocked when he finds that the North  goes back to nuclear weapon testing and crimes against humanity as soon as the Olympics are over.

 

It's easy to talk peace and the need for dialogue when one has the luxury of 25,000 US personnel in harm's way acting as a deterrent.  The USA should reduce its presence and let  South Korea deal with the issue on its own. Both Australia and Canada have deployed assets to assist in  documenting the Chinese and Singapore  busting of UN sanctions now going on. Yet, no one hodls China accountable. Instead both the Australian and Canadian PMS are on their knees begging the Chinese for trade and being played.

 

The next time  the South has a war it can fight it on its own. Tens of thousands of US nationals,  with hundreds each from the UK, Australia, Canada and France died to keep the South free. Now the USA and especially Canada, since the nuclear missiles will mostly likely detonate over Canada are at risk because of the madman in the North.  The South Korean's president way of repaying the sacrifice of the North Americans is to now collaborate with a despot  nation that runs concentration camps and torture  prisons.

Peace is what it is all about. American's have this mind set that they can settle every thing with a war. Asia will defeat USA with Asian style diplomacy. And Kim their front man for if we have to even a small Asian nation can kick your ass. Though they do not  want war it is just noise.

 Asians are more inclined to seek power,with money..Asia will buy up the world first. Then dictate how the world turns. Soon USA trade will not be needed or vital. The middle class emerging in Asia can easily sustain themselves for generations. They have strong military influence in their governing but that is pretty well where it ends.,They show their military but seldom go to war.

  You are so tight about countries being played by China ,but hey we voted these numb nuts in and we got the leaders we deserve. 

  

 

  

[PhonThong]

9 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

Peace is what it is all about. American's have this mind set that they can settle every thing with a war. Asia will defeat USA with Asian style diplomacy. And Kim their front man for if we have to even a small Asian nation can kick your ass. Though they do not  want war it is just noise.

 Asians are more inclined to seek power,with money..Asia will buy up the world first. Then dictate how the world turns. Soon USA trade will not be needed or vital. The middle class emerging in Asia can easily sustain themselves for generations. They have strong military influence in their governing but that is pretty well where it ends.,They show their military but seldom go to war.

  You are so tight about countries being played by China ,but hey we voted these numb nuts in and we got the leaders we deserve. 

  

 

  

If only you knew what you were talking about. Failed your Asian studies class, did you?

[impulse]

Wonder when the hit squad will be sent out to get her, like they got his brother?

 

[RickBradford]

49 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

Yes and your point is?

My point is that demonizing people purely because of the colour of their skin is a bad starting point for any attempt to work out solutions.

 

This has been conclusively demonstrated by history. Repeatedly.

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, RickBradford said:

 

Impressive. You have just dismissed one-third of the world's population as cruel racists in a mere two sentences.

I hate it when you and I agree.

[ilostmypassword]

41 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

If only you knew what you were talking about. Failed your Asian studies class, did you?

More germanely, he failed his economics studies. That is, if he ever bothered to pursue them in the first place.

[lovelomsak]

2 hours ago, RickBradford said:

My point is that demonizing people purely because of the colour of their skin is a bad starting point for any attempt to work out solutions.

 

This has been conclusively demonstrated by history. Repeatedly.

Where did color come into this. No mention of color by me stay on topic if you want to criticize my posting please. I simply pointed out a well known reality. Asian is not a color sorry.

[africasiaeuro]

Who does not see this as a positive move. A significant step forward in improving relations.

[RickBradford]

6 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

I hate it when you and I agree.

Don't worry -- I'm sure normal service will be resumed shortly.

[Sir Dude]

America should just pull it's forces from Korea and Japan and just leave them to it. The world has changed, if it goes south, then let the Chinese sort it out...and then see what happens. The results would be a mess. I think far too many in Asia have got too used to hiding under the US's skirt.

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, africasiaeuro said:

Who does not see this as a positive move. A significant step forward in improving relations.

Me.

It's just NK propaganda.

Will blow over soon. 

NK just wants the USA to leave so they have a clear path south.

They really like the reunification flag but their idea of reunification wouldn't be so pleasant. 

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by Jingthing

[Ulic]

The North Koreans are on track to reunify the Korean peninsula under

the supreme leader from North Korea. The south is just too dumb to

see it. I shake my head. China/North Korea see things on a 200 year

plan, the US/West plan the future on 4-8 year presidential term cycles.

Clinton, Bush, Obama kicked the can down the road and now Trump will

have deal with North Korea. A loose cannon for sure. No easy or clear

path. North Korea has broken every agreement they have made. The only

certainty is they will break every agreement they make going forward.

I have no suggestions, we live in interesting times. 

[pegman]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Me.

It's just NK propaganda.

Will blow over soon. 

NK just wants the USA to leave so they have a clear path south.

They really like the reunification flag but their idea of reunification wouldn't be so pleasant. 

 

You Americans still playing the dominos card in Asia I see. How did that theory work out after the retreat from Vietnam?

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, pegman said:

You Americans still playing the dominos card in Asia I see. How did that theory work out after the retreat from Vietnam?

No dominoes. Just talking about Korea and the easily known goals of NK. 

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed.  

[mrwebb8825]

On 2/12/2018 at 9:29 AM, lovelomsak said:

Asia has no problem once the tide has turned showing their total lack of respect for the USA and any other nation that are not Asian.

You seem to be under the extremely false impression that Asian countries like each other.

[lovelomsak]

5 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

You seem to be under the extremely false impression that Asian countries like each other.

No more the impression business is business.