Is Korea passed? Almost
One of the more popular terms in recent days regarding the role of South Korea in the controversy involving nuclear threats from North Korea is “Korea Passing” in which Korea refers to South Korea. In plain English, Korea Passing means that South Korea is excluded from any meaningful negotiations intended to solve the crisis, whereas these negotiations are carried out mainly between the U.S., China, Japan and North Korea.
My view is that Korea is almost passed. Any attempt to reverse the trend to make Korea relevant again requires herculean efforts on the part of leaders of Korea and everyone in Korea as well. I do not see such efforts coming anytime soon.
Most, if not all, of us agree on the following observations. First, the nuclear weapons program of North Korea is almost complete and likely irreversible. Second, South Korea has no comparable offensive weapons or defensive weapons of its own that can counter nuclear weapons of the North. Third, China wants to sustain North Korea as a buffer between the U.S influence and its own power. Fourth, leaders in both China and Russia have no sense of what is right or wrong and continue to assist North Korea.
Not many people, including leaders of South Korea, understand the uncomfortable possibilities that internal politics in the U.S. could prompt U.S. troops in South Korea to withdraw all the way to U.S. mainland, and that North Korea with its far superior military strength might eventually dictate policies in South Korea in such a way that South Korea can easily become a cash cow for North Korea by responding positively to all demands from North Korea.
These demands will begin nicely and gently, say, from asking to stop broadcasting along the DMZ and stop flying anti-North balloons, to demanding North Korean fishing vessels to operate below the demarcation line or food supplies to starving North Koreans, and, heaven forbid, possibly execution of selected South Koreans who criticize North Korea. South Korea will begin to do whatever North Korea wants them to do by justifying it in the name of humanitarian assistance, or the pretense of avoiding a war.
By the time many in South Korea realize what is going on, it will be too late. There will no longer be South Korea. It will be the southern half of North Korea, or whatever. If all the actions that leaders in South Korea have taken from the day of its independence on Aug. 15, 1945, to this date continue, days of dominance by the North over the South will come.
There are ways to reverse the trend of Korea Passing. There is not much time left to do it, however, since all counter actions have to be taken while the alliance between South Korea and the U.S. remains strong, which may not remain strong forever. Many Americans will begin to question why their precious volunteer soldiers will have to risk their struggling lives to defend a country that is rich with overflowing manpower.
What should South Korea do to reverse Korea passing?
All Koreans, inside and outside of Korea, should realize that the time to be truly patriotic is now and collectively decide to make major financial sacrifice to save South Korea as a free and prospering country. Political leaders of South Korea should announce the date of withdrawing from the NPT treaty 60 days from now, unless China stops oil supply to North Korea and North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons program. If neither occurs as is likely, South Korea should undertake a crash project of developing nuclear weapons and cutting-edge defensive weapons of its own preferably within two to three years.
As we all know China hates Korea and Japan developing nuclear weapons. China has to make a choice between forcing North Korea to give up their nuclear weapons on the one hand, and allowing South Korea and Japan to develop their own nuclear weapons on the other. There should never be free lunch for China.
Korea should also develop a massive economic assistance program for North Korea in exchange for the North abandoning their nuclear weapons program. The economic assistance program should be of such magnitude to create one to two million well-paying jobs throughout North Korea. If they accept it, that should be the beginning of true dialogue between the two Koreas.
If they reject it as it is more likely, I would not be surprised to see some movement among the masses in North Korea. Remember that in all major revolutions throughout world history, revolt began from unorganized ordinary people. Think about the French revolution of 1789 to 1799, Chinese revolution of 1949 to 1961, Cuban revolution of 1953 to 1959, and Russian revolution of 1917. Not easy, but possible and likely even in North Korea.
When tragedy begins to hit, it will hit quickly and brutally. Wishful thinking will never do any good to national defense.