[whiteperil] Sean: Various debates

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Posted by Sean:
Various debates
http://whiteperil.com/posts/1161409032.shtml


   For obvious reasons, everyone is talking about how the PRC has reacted
   to the DPRK's nuclear test, but it's worth [1]paying attention to the
   ROK, too:

     South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun confirmed Friday morning that
     South Korea will faithfully implement the U.N. Security Council
     resolution on North Korea, which was passed following Pyongyang's
     nuclear test last week.
     Roh made the remark during a meeting with Foreign Minister Taro Aso
     at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.
     However, Roh implied that South Korea would proceed cautiously with
     the sanction measures. "Each country has final authority over how
     to interpret the resolution," he said.
     ...
     Roh, with an apparent reference to Japan's possible nuclear
     armament, said to Aso, "There are various debates [in Japan] on how
     best to respond to North Korea's nuclear test."
     Aso countered by saying, "Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe has promised
     that Japan will uphold the three nonnuclear principles [in which
     Japan pledges not to produce, possess or allow nuclear weapons into
     the country]."

   Japan has been considering a full-scale cessation of not only imports
   from North Korea (which have already been implemented) but also
   exports to it. South Korea's participation in executing UNSC-based
   sanctions matter, of course, because [2]part of the package is
   maritime inspections:

     In South Korea, criticism of the "sunshine policy" of the
     administration of President Roh Moo-hyun increased after the
     nuclear test.
     Tokyo and Washington intend to make more efforts to coax the South
     Korean government over to their side, a senior Japanese Foreign
     Ministry official said.
     Though the U.N. resolution includes inspection of cargo carried to
     and from North Korea, the measure cannot be effective unless checks
     around the Korean Peninsula are intensified.
     The key is whether South Korea will participate in and cooperate
     with the inspection on ships entering and leaving North Korea.
     ...
     Also, while Japan and South Korea regard North Korean nuclear
     weapons as a direct threat, what the United States fears most is
     proliferation of the weapons to other parties, such as terrorists.

   Joel also [3]posted on more fundamental (and well-recognized)
   differences in perceptions between the US and the ROK.

References

   1. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20061021TDY01001.htm
   2. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20061021TDY02008.htm
   3. http://faroutliers.blogspot.com/2006/10/differing-perceptions-of-threat-of-nk.html