Unilateralism Update
South Korea’s government is feeling the pressure of reality. For now, says Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, there will be no “large-scale” investments in North Korea, other than those for humanitarian purposes. The Korea Herald hisses:
The government’s announcement is viewed by some analysts as a change in Seoul’s attitude, which was influenced by hard-liners in the U.S. administration.
The piece claims that South Korea has not yet made a decision to send 500,000 tons of fertilizer to the North (given yesterday’s lavish birthday feasts for the North Korean elite, you have to wonder whether there’s any other reason for fertilizer request than to create a split between Seoul and Washington). Nor, according to the Mr. Ban, was there any discussion of sanctions.
What exactly did U.S. officials ask about South Korean aid to the North, and just what will South Korea do? The reports aren’t consistent. MSNBC, reporting on the birthday celebrations for Kim Jong-Il, echoed the “no major investment” shift but noted a more general statement from Mr. Ban that Seoul would continue to provide fertilizer. This report notes in one place that U.S. officials didn’t make any specific recommendations about the fertilizer request, and then proceeds to say that Don Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz asked Ban Ki-Moon to stop giving the North economic aid. The Korea Times calls that a “slight difference” in the “allies'” positions.
Meanwhile, over in Japan, U.S. Ambassador Howard Baker has suggested that Japan should exercise caution in imposing sanctions and should instead urge neighboring countries to take joint action. As a practical matter, Japan’s new ship insurance rules will amount to the same thing starting March 1st.