Is President Obama making the Korea situation worse?
|
Thursday, 11 Nov. 2010
|18:06 - 19:00 GMT
On Wednesday President Obama announced that a joint military exercise between the US and South Korea will take place during the next week.
A South Korean foreign military spokesman said
Over telephone talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, we agreed that through the drill, we will be able to ...send a clear message to the North in relation to the recent situation.
But will this send a strong message to Pyongyang or will it add fuel to an already tense situation? North Korea has already threatened a military response to any further incidents on what it calls the 'illegal' maritime border.
Writing in the Independent newspaper, Adrian Hamilton says that Obama is doing nothing to help the crisis:
The very worst response to the Korean crisis is to do what President Obama did yesterday...We've been here before and it's never done any good. Certainly it's done nothing to change Pyongyang's behaviour.
Leslie H. Gelb says that negotiation with North Korea is impossible and that the US is not going to risk a war. In the circumstances, this is the right decision:
What policy choices does the United States have? Above all, there is agreement within the administration now, as before, that America must follow the South Korean lead. It is their country, and it is they who will be most at risk. Almost certainly, Seoul and Washington will agree to beef up America's naval presence in the area, and that's the right military move.
Not everyone is as convinced though. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for the Philipines, Esteban Conejos Jr., said his government will be watching very closely to see what happens. In GMA news he said,
the Philippine government is "worried" over the implications of the joint exercise....which could be interpreted by some sectors as "a show of force".
And China is also wary of greater US involvement in the area
Writing on Facebook, Aniebet says the South Korean government should be stronger:
The weakness displayed by the South Koreans in their responses to military threats from the North! A vote of no-confidence should be passed on that regime.
Is President Obama right to send warships to the Korean border? Should the US support its South Korean ally? Will this make the situation worse? Is there any other way to deal with North Korea?
N Korea is a pathetic and ridiculous state. Time for China to step in and take hold of their client. The option is carpeting...far more costly. Enough is enough Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via Facebook
18:24
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Pk Jarju in Birmingham on Facebook - Obama should negotiate. Retaliating against North Korea will be a recipe for disaster. The only people who will suffer if South Korea retaliates will be the ordinary North Korean civilians who are being oppressed.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
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Juta on Facebook - The biggest problem here in the Korea tension are:USA and China.If these two powers resolve their issues,S/N Korea will be fine.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:19
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Jing on Facebook - Americans should learn to speak and not to shout . NK is scared of US. Seen a cornered rat?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:18
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Tembo on Facebook - Its a wrong move. Obama always talks of diplomacy, so can he do it. He seriously has to take his foreign policy under review and manage the situation before he is known for sparking the Korean war again.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:17
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Elias on the blog - To back down and cancel the exercise, would be a victory for North Korea, and it would result in more provocations from North Korea.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:17
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Aladin in Herat - Afghanistan on Facebook - Being a powerful country - meaning the U.S - I think President Obama has done the right thing sending troops to Korea. The US has taken every step appreciable and I don't think it will create any problems.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:16
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Abel in Nigeria on Facebook - North Korea should be given some lessons. If not - they will never stop their provocations
Comment sent via BLOG
18:15
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Bob on the blog - Whether the plan is retaliation or negotiation, the key to success has to be China. If they're not on-side, whatever the plan, it will be doomed.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
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Andrew in Cape Coast Castle - Ghana on Facebook - If South Korea retaliates the North will certainly respond, war will then be inevitable and innocent civilians will be caught up it. Just to boost the adrenalin of some politicians. The US should step aside and allow the two koreas' solve their problems.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:12
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Bernard Chen on the blog: President Obama should negotiate with North Korea, although I understand he cannot be seen to be weak on foreign now the Republicans are taking on a more assertive tone.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:11
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Lombe on Facebook - should South Korea just keep on accepting what North Korea keeps on doing to it? And for how long are they to do that?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:11
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Thabale on Facebook - South Korea is a US ally so I guess it makes sense. I'm sure the warships are just there as a deterrent and nothing else.
Comment sent via SMS
18:08
108702415
The N Korea Militery will keep the Future Hostig.bjay
Comment sent via host
18:01
113631290
Hello - Ben S here. We''re live now, discussing the Korean tensions - and the Scottish referee strike. Leave your comment here, and listen here:
Is President Obama making the Korea situation worse?
| Thursday, 11 Nov. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
On Wednesday President Obama announced that a joint military exercise between the US and South Korea will take place during the next week.
A South Korean foreign military spokesman said
Over telephone talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, we agreed that through the drill, we will be able to ...send a clear message to the North in relation to the recent situation.
But will this send a strong message to Pyongyang or will it add fuel to an already tense situation? North Korea has already threatened a military response to any further incidents on what it calls the 'illegal' maritime border.
Writing in the Independent newspaper, Adrian Hamilton says that Obama is doing nothing to help the crisis:
The very worst response to the Korean crisis is to do what President Obama did yesterday...We've been here before and it's never done any good. Certainly it's done nothing to change Pyongyang's behaviour.
Leslie H. Gelb says that negotiation with North Korea is impossible and that the US is not going to risk a war. In the circumstances, this is the right decision:
What policy choices does the United States have? Above all, there is agreement within the administration now, as before, that America must follow the South Korean lead. It is their country, and it is they who will be most at risk. Almost certainly, Seoul and Washington will agree to beef up America's naval presence in the area, and that's the right military move.
Not everyone is as convinced though. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for the Philipines, Esteban Conejos Jr., said his government will be watching very closely to see what happens. In GMA news he said,
the Philippine government is "worried" over the implications of the joint exercise....which could be interpreted by some sectors as "a show of force".
And China is also wary of greater US involvement in the area
Writing on Facebook, Aniebet says the South Korean government should be stronger:
The weakness displayed by the South Koreans in their responses to military threats from the North! A vote of no-confidence should be passed on that regime.
Is President Obama right to send warships to the Korean border? Should the US support its South Korean ally? Will this make the situation worse? Is there any other way to deal with North Korea?
Your comments
Comment sent via SMS
N Korea is a pathetic and ridiculous state. Time for China to step in and take hold of their client. The option is carpeting...far more costly. Enough is enough Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via Facebook
Pk Jarju in Birmingham on Facebook - Obama should negotiate. Retaliating against North Korea will be a recipe for disaster. The only people who will suffer if South Korea retaliates will be the ordinary North Korean civilians who are being oppressed.
Comment sent via Facebook
Juta on Facebook - The biggest problem here in the Korea tension are:USA and China.If these two powers resolve their issues,S/N Korea will be fine.
Comment sent via Facebook
Jing on Facebook - Americans should learn to speak and not to shout . NK is scared of US. Seen a cornered rat?
Comment sent via Facebook
Tembo on Facebook - Its a wrong move. Obama always talks of diplomacy, so can he do it. He seriously has to take his foreign policy under review and manage the situation before he is known for sparking the Korean war again.
Comment sent via BLOG
Elias on the blog - To back down and cancel the exercise, would be a victory for North Korea, and it would result in more provocations from North Korea.
Comment sent via Facebook
Aladin in Herat - Afghanistan on Facebook - Being a powerful country - meaning the U.S - I think President Obama has done the right thing sending troops to Korea. The US has taken every step appreciable and I don't think it will create any problems.
Comment sent via Facebook
Abel in Nigeria on Facebook - North Korea should be given some lessons. If not - they will never stop their provocations
Comment sent via BLOG
Bob on the blog - Whether the plan is retaliation or negotiation, the key to success has to be China. If they're not on-side, whatever the plan, it will be doomed.
Comment sent via Facebook
Andrew in Cape Coast Castle - Ghana on Facebook - If South Korea retaliates the North will certainly respond, war will then be inevitable and innocent civilians will be caught up it. Just to boost the adrenalin of some politicians. The US should step aside and allow the two koreas' solve their problems.
Comment sent via BLOG
Bernard Chen on the blog: President Obama should negotiate with North Korea, although I understand he cannot be seen to be weak on foreign now the Republicans are taking on a more assertive tone.
Comment sent via Facebook
Lombe on Facebook - should South Korea just keep on accepting what North Korea keeps on doing to it? And for how long are they to do that?
Comment sent via Facebook
Thabale on Facebook - South Korea is a US ally so I guess it makes sense. I'm sure the warships are just there as a deterrent and nothing else.
Comment sent via SMS
The N Korea Militery will keep the Future Hostig.bjay
Comment sent via host
Hello - Ben S here. We''re live now, discussing the Korean tensions - and the Scottish referee strike. Leave your comment here, and listen here: