FallibleDragon (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} fallibledragon) wrote,@ 2006-10-03 22:13:00 |
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This stuff with North Korea vs. World is looking bad.
On one hand, I (even as a proponent of non-violence) can totally understand why NK might want to have nukes right now, given that they're one of the last strongholds of a way of life (namely a form of communism), and that they're being pressured to conform by surrounding countries with totally different principles. That's enough to make any country desperate. Having nukes IS something that other countries are entitled to, so why not NK? Granted, NK isn't possessed of the most wise and noble leaders in the world, but then, the US is the only country to have actually used nukes in anger, so why can it have them, if NK can't have them to protect a way of life?
On the other hand, I think having a few basic nuclear weapons will not be the deterrent NK imagines it to be, and that they're probably going to provoke a pre-emptive attack instead. After all, it took nuclear subs etc. to discourage NATO and the USSR from going further. Does NK have nuclear subs already, and trident-like missile programs to make these few nukes a realistic threat? I think not.
I guess to my inexperienced mind, it seems what they're trying to do is just elevate their status enough to be seen as a modern power, that deserves equal respect. But, without a shitload of money to build modern armies and, more importantly, to influence economies and thereby line pockets of the rich and powerful, I fear they'll never get that respect. Which leaves them desperate. Sadly, our leaders aren't going to be wise enough to give them respect just because they're human and deserve it like the rest of us.
So... yeah, seems like bad news to me. Anyone seeing a more positive (or negative?!) side to this?
On one hand, I (even as a proponent of non-violence) can totally understand why NK might want to have nukes right now, given that they're one of the last strongholds of a way of life (namely a form of communism), and that they're being pressured to conform by surrounding countries with totally different principles. That's enough to make any country desperate. Having nukes IS something that other countries are entitled to, so why not NK? Granted, NK isn't possessed of the most wise and noble leaders in the world, but then, the US is the only country to have actually used nukes in anger, so why can it have them, if NK can't have them to protect a way of life?
On the other hand, I think having a few basic nuclear weapons will not be the deterrent NK imagines it to be, and that they're probably going to provoke a pre-emptive attack instead. After all, it took nuclear subs etc. to discourage NATO and the USSR from going further. Does NK have nuclear subs already, and trident-like missile programs to make these few nukes a realistic threat? I think not.
I guess to my inexperienced mind, it seems what they're trying to do is just elevate their status enough to be seen as a modern power, that deserves equal respect. But, without a shitload of money to build modern armies and, more importantly, to influence economies and thereby line pockets of the rich and powerful, I fear they'll never get that respect. Which leaves them desperate. Sadly, our leaders aren't going to be wise enough to give them respect just because they're human and deserve it like the rest of us.
So... yeah, seems like bad news to me. Anyone seeing a more positive (or negative?!) side to this?
