Friday, April 3, 2009

US turns up pressure on North Korea ahead of likely missile launch

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the US and allies Japan and South Korea have "stepped up pressure on North Korea," warning Pyongyang to scrap their planned launch of a Taepodong-2 missile.

US President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myungbak have agreed to respond "sternly" if Pyongyang goes ahead.

The US said it won't shoot it down, but plans to use other weapons in its diplomatic arsenal: namely, preventing North Korea from getting things it wants, like diplomatic recognition, trade and investment, and security guarantees.

Such things may or may not hit home. As B.R. Meyers writes, maybe the Dear Leader doesn't care. Threaten to cut off his supply of cognac.

[above: That's right, Dear Leader, if you forego your little space adventure, then both these things can be yours. On the other hand, if you're more into slumming it, as I suspect you are, we are willing to provide you with an army of cognac-swilling white trash (below). Take your pick. Dismantle all your nuclear reactors and you can have the whole lot.]


3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Shinbone, why'd you remove your 불꽃놀이 comment? I was all set to say, yeah, I hope this is nothing more than a little fireworks display.

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  3. i gave it some thought and i'm actually kind of concerned

    by the way, my word verification for this point is 'dingism'

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