Marcus Noland on Sanctions and Engagement

He makes several good points, but this is probably my favorite:

If I lived in Korea, I myself would also support the engagement policy. Engagement is very important as a tool to induce the fundamental changes of the North Korean regime. But from some time back, the South Korean government seems to have lost its perspective. Engagement is just a tool to achieving the goal of making changes in North Korea, but now it seems engagement itself has become the goal. Proper engagement must entail some conditions and reciprocal factors.

I would also favor engagement if there were any sign that it was reaching the people or changing North Korea for the better.  But as long as South Korea simply uses free money as a way to keep Kim Jong Il in power, it will accomplish that and nothing more.

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