The python strategy: North Korea in the squeeze
I've been wondering of late how we were going to handle Iran and North Korea. We are unable to have any real traction against either of them alone. China supplies the DPRK with the bulk of its oil without which, they would be unable to do much of anything.
If there is as much coorindation as hinted at in the article(s) this might be an effective way of harassing and hampering them enough to force them to give up their missile program.
The problem is they have nowhere to turn. Kim has reportedly told his inner circle that if they do not suppress the populace, they will undoubtedly not survive either an uprising or a coup. Kim knows he has to hold on tightly if he is to survive. Any cracks in that control and things might fall very quickly.
He has been trying to do a mutant version of China's "one country, two systems". He created "Special Economic Zones" where foreign investors have access to North Korean slaves...uh, workers who are paid by the state and not directly by the foreign companies. You can bet they get a mere fraction of the total wages paid to the state. It has been a miserable failure. The workers are completely unskilled and resent taking orders from foreigners.
Putting the squeeze on the DPRK's hard currency trades (missiles, drugs and conterfeit currency) might be enough to destabilize the regime and have Kim flee to China or perhaps some non-aligned state (read: backwater) where he can hide from justice and move his billions around the globe to ensure he lives in comfort.
Personally, I'd like to see a civil uprising and Kim getting the Mussolini treatment.
I've been wondering of late how we were going to handle Iran and North Korea. We are unable to have any real traction against either of them alone. China supplies the DPRK with the bulk of its oil without which, they would be unable to do much of anything.
If there is as much coorindation as hinted at in the article(s) this might be an effective way of harassing and hampering them enough to force them to give up their missile program.
The problem is they have nowhere to turn. Kim has reportedly told his inner circle that if they do not suppress the populace, they will undoubtedly not survive either an uprising or a coup. Kim knows he has to hold on tightly if he is to survive. Any cracks in that control and things might fall very quickly.
He has been trying to do a mutant version of China's "one country, two systems". He created "Special Economic Zones" where foreign investors have access to North Korean slaves...uh, workers who are paid by the state and not directly by the foreign companies. You can bet they get a mere fraction of the total wages paid to the state. It has been a miserable failure. The workers are completely unskilled and resent taking orders from foreigners.
Putting the squeeze on the DPRK's hard currency trades (missiles, drugs and conterfeit currency) might be enough to destabilize the regime and have Kim flee to China or perhaps some non-aligned state (read: backwater) where he can hide from justice and move his billions around the globe to ensure he lives in comfort.
Personally, I'd like to see a civil uprising and Kim getting the Mussolini treatment.
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