Supposing this is in good faith, then this is a public relations and diplomacy breakthrough with potential to be on par with Reagan and Gorbachev.
The fact it happened so soon after the change in leadership hints strongly that Jong Un is definitely not his father, and may have a more nuanced and well, more SANE ability to negotiate with the outside world.
And I'd imagine China is breathing a huge sigh of relief in finding out their bastard stepchild allies might not be as crazy.
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
Any ability whatsoever to negotiate with the outside world would be an improvement to be honest.
This doesn't necessarily have the immediately obvious potential of a Berlin Wall falling, but I get the feeling this event could find itself in the history textbooks of 50/100 years time when considering Obama's achievements. Certainly if he can build on it, ideally through a second term in office.
My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.
Interesting development. after so many years of propaganda against the rest of the planet, NK rejoining the rest of the world will be very interesting to study.
Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?
One can only hope that Obama's successor doesn't tank this achievement, whether he's replaced this year or in four.
But yeah. This is a pretty damn big surprise. What's next? We life the embargo on Cuba? (That would be pretty cool, actually. )
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
Please don't. The new market would probably make the price for cigars rise because of the demand!
Ok seriously, lets hope that this is the first step to something better, not just some political scheme by the new government.
"You can reply to this Message!"
Yeah, let's hope that after those supplies arrive in NK there isn't announcement that basically says "So long, suckers!"
Vampire Hunter
Well, I have to admit that taking this opportunity to re-establish talks with North Korea after Ill's death was a good choice, and Un is showing himself to not be like his father. I am hopeful that we can go towards a more... neutral stance with North Korea.
Wizard Needs Food Badly
And I'm hoping that all the food aid will actually go somewhere needed.
Now using Trivialis handle.
I'm curious about how much the food aid will be.
House Lewis: Sanity is Relative
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I quoted the part of the article that answered that as 240,000 metric tons.
Metric tons or metric fuck tons?
Still, it's good to see that NK is, even if only slightly, opening. It's not Berlin wall style, but it's begin. If NK keeps this line, it might become actual member of international society, instead of that weird guy across the street nobody wants to deal with, but who keeps demanding respect.
according to the article, the US will be closely watching to make sure the food goes to the populace, not the administration.
Essentially, the deal is "you show us that you're shutting down your nuclear ambitions. we give your starving citizenry tons of delicious foodstuffs and we potentially become neutral parties who can negotiate further"
edited 29th Feb '12 2:58:52 PM by Midgetsnowman
Do Not Go Gentle
Am I the only one who finds it poetically coincidental that the North Korean leader, who is satirised as being a glutton, is trading the only imminently dangerous thing about his country...for food?
Alright, on a serious note; why would they? No, I'm sure the food will go to the right people, but what are the chances that America could enforce the shutting down of these nuclear programs? If anyone can find a clause stating "UN Inspectors will be permitted to investigate to insure the suspension of Uranium Enrichment" please point me to it. Otherwise, it seems like the Helsinki Accords.
It's your God, they're your rules, you go to hell." - Mark Twain
They can enforce it because the food being sent is completely contingent on letting international inspectors in to verify the dismantling of the program first.
No proof. No food.
edited 29th Feb '12 3:10:03 PM by Midgetsnowman
Do Not Go Gentle
...I'm too tired. Should've read the whole quote. You have my apologies.
edited 29th Feb '12 3:14:18 PM by Minister
It's your God, they're your rules, you go to hell." - Mark Twain
Vampire Hunter
I could just see it now...
Barack Obama: (confused) Uhh... only if you shut down your nuclear program.
Kim Jong-Un: (happy) Yes, cake is better than nukes!
edited 29th Feb '12 10:02:11 PM by GameGuruGG
Wizard Needs Food Badly
Gunpla is amazing!
Hey if gluttony leads to a less dangerous North Korea then yay gluttony.
Prince of Dorne
Why am I getting the feeling that as soon as we deliver the goods, they'll just go back to their normal shtick and start threatening war all over again?
Indiana Solo
because they've done that before, perhaps?
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
Well better to be a sucker then, then to let thousands of people hunger because of simple distrust. The Free World is supposed to be Good Guy after all.
"You can reply to this Message!"
someone
Well, if they don't go back to threatening war, then things would definitely get somewhat better. I think.
edited 1st Mar '12 7:18:01 AM by ThatHuman
something
Food supply has been to continuous anyway so if they go back on their word they get cut off and go hungry again.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Never Trust
You can bet most of the food will go to the hierarchy or into the military's stockpiles anyway.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57387458/u.s.-n-korea-to-suspend-nuclear-activities/
The joint announcement Wednesday by the two nations comes little more than two months after the death of longtime ruler Kim Jong Il, and suggests North Korea has met the key U.S. preconditions for restarting multi-nation disarmament-for-aid talks that the North withdrew from in 2009.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called North Korea suspension of nuclear activities a "modest first step" but also "a reminder that the world is transforming around us."
She told a Senate hearing that the North has agreed to a moratorium on nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment activities, and will allow International Atomic Energy inspectors to verify and monitor it, and to confirm disablement of its nuclear reactor and associate facilities.
Since 2006 North Korea has tested missiles, staged two nuclear tests and unveiled a uranium enrichment program that could give it a second route to manufacture nuclear weapons, in addition to its existing plutonium-based program. At low levels, uranium can be used in power reactors, but at higher levels it can be used in nuclear bombs.
Clinton said the United States will meet with North Korea to finalize details for a proposed package of 240,000 metric tons of food aid, referring to it as "nutritional assistance." She said intensive monitoring of the aid would be required.
North Korea, which appealed for the aid a year ago to alleviate chronic food shortages, issued a similar, although differently worded statement released simultaneously in Pyongyang.
An unidentified spokesman from North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in its statement carried by the state-run news agency that the North agreed to the nuclear moratoriums and the allowance of U.N. inspectors "with a view to maintaining positive atmosphere" for the U.S.-North Korea talks.
This is quite something. North Korea suspending its nuclear program, the US giving food aid, and strong potential for further talks and diplomatic progress.
Let's discuss the implications of this, for there are many. Obama is certainly boosting his peace credentials with this (vital in election year) though the Republicans will try and spin this as "negotiating with terrorists".
The new NK leader however is not a proven terrorist, and this is a major early sign that he is not his father. We were all hoping for a sign like that, but I really didn't see this happening, so soon if at all. After all, it's reversing a significant aspect of NK foreign policy.
Can we progress from here? The country hopefully can, if it can reestablish more positive diplomatic relations with the US, and by extension the rest of the Western world.
My name is Addy. Please call me that instead of my username.