Opinion - The Korea Times

Playing the waiting game

By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON ―  A lot of people here, from right to left politically, think war on the Korean peninsula is imminent. Kim Jong-un, they say, is eager to order a seventh nuclear test as well as test shots of intercontinental ballistic missiles. And would not President Trump love to stage a “preemptive strike” to frustrate Kim’s grand design ―  or at least attack in retaliation after Kim had already gotten away with a few more tests?Maybe, but believe it or not the U.S. is in no position to risk Korean War II, to stage a “preemptive strike,” even if President Trump ordered one. His “generals,” of whom he’s been known to speak so highly, would have to advise him of certain realities. Those great U.S.-South Korean war games we keep hearing about, those flights of the dreaded B-1 bomber just below the North-South line, the spectacle of the world’s biggest, best aircraft carriers off the South Korean east and west coasts may all be impressive, maybe frightening, but they’re for show, for intimidatio

Dec 14, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Trump's 'intelligence' problem

By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON ― You have to wonder about Michael Flynn, the retired army lieutenant general who served as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser for 24 days before he was forced to resign. He had spent his 33-year military career as an intelligence officer but was dumb enough to lie to the FBI about his contacts with Russians before Trump’s inauguration, and now he’s pleading guilty to having made “false, fictitious and fraudulent” statements.How could a guy have reached such heights in the U.S. military establishment and turn out to have been such a liar? For that matter, what “intelligence” was he offering during his long career, in which he rose to director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and chairman of the Military Intelligence Board? Did he know what he was talking about ― or just how to play politics on the military ladder? And what did he think he was doing serving as an analyst for RT, Russia Today, infamous for broadcasting propaganda directed at the U.S., then breaking bread with President Vladimir Putin

Dec 7, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Meaning of a missile test

By Donald Kirk WASHINGTON ― He had to do it, didn’t he? Just when the optimists were saying, well, it’s been a few weeks since the last one, maybe he’s learned his lesson. What lesson? Kim Jong-un sails on, oblivious to the fuming and fussing in capitals from Beijing to Washington and points in between. He thinks the solution is to fire those long-range missiles, the higher and further the better, sending world leaders scurrying for cover, wringing their hands, calling for talks and, oh yes, condemnation by the United Nations.Now that Kim has shown he can fire an ICBM anytime he pleases, again and yet again, we can be sure he’ll also order a seventh nuclear test. Never mind if it blows up a mountain, covers a few peasants with rocks and sends tremors up and down the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has plenty of mountains. He’ll find another one.But how long will this story go on? No, a “peace treaty” will solve nothing. He’ll keep testing anyway. No, Chinese pressure only annoys the North Koreans. They know Xi Jinping is not going to cut

Nov 30, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

To sanction or not to sanction?

By Donald KirkThe debate never stops. Pro-sanction people are saying the latest round of U.S. sanctions against the North may indeed bring enough pressure on Kim Jong-un so that he may agree to talks about giving up his nukes and missiles. The anti-sanctionists say sanctions never work, and now, they say, Kim may be tempted to test still more missiles and nukes just to prove what a great and independent leader he is.We’re never going to hear the end of this debate. Nor will we ever get any definitive answers. Who will know for sure, if he orders another test of a long-range missile capable of carrying a warhead to the U.S., that he would or would not have done so with or without the sanctions? And if he doesn’t test another long-range missile, can anyone tell if he put off the idea just because sanctions were really hurting?It’s all a guessing game in which President Trump’s decision to restore North Korea to its rightful place on the State Department’s list of “sponsors of terror” adds colorful quotes to the argument. If nothing else, b

Nov 23, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Trump's magical mystery tour

By Donald Kirk            President Trump had to have had a great time during his 12-day journey to East Asian capitals. Everywhere he went he was treated like royalty. No hostile politicos taunting him, at least to his face, no nasty foes hurling epithets close range as he shuttled from one leader's center of power to another, no enemies in high places trying to cost him his job even if they disagreed with him. Oh, there were demonstrators here and there, candlelight vigilantes in Seoul trying to make themselves heard as his motorcade came and went, protesters in Manila battling police to let him know they wanted him to go home. That was about it. The leaders of the two communist countries on his itinerary, China and Vietnam, made certain no rude noises at all would foul the atmosphere.        Not that all was sweetness and light. Nobody wanted to hear him proclaiming the "military option," not even a surgical "preemptive strike" on a North Korean missile launch site. And nobody was too interested in his plea

Nov 16, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Trump talking tough

By Donald KirkAt least he gave it a shot. He really wanted to make it up to Panmunjom but was turned back by the weather.For most visitors, the fog that hung over the line between North and South Korea would not have been too much for a beautiful U.S. Air Force helicopter to navigate.It wasn’t as if there were high winds or a terrific downpour. The passenger in this case, however, was the president of the United States. Nobody wanted to take the remotest chance on the helicopter going down with the Trumpster himself on board. If anything should happen to him, who would believe for a moment that he wasn’t the victim of some terrible North Korean plot? Just imagine the rumors and “reports” that would have been circulating ― not just right away but for years to come.As it was, having not succeeded in what would have been a surprise, unannounced sortie to the Demilitarized Zone, Donald Trump showed up on time, two hours later, Wednesday at the National Assembly, The speech was all over television, on Korean and international channels, in Korean and English, b

Nov 9, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Tear down that wall

By Donald KirkTalk about missed opportunities. Donald Trump won't be visiting Panmunjom for the chance to glower across the line at the North Korean soldiers on the other side, wave a fist and shout, "I will destroy you."That’s too bad considering just about every other American president has made the trek up there from Seoul. They all went by helicopter, not fighting the traffic as most of us have to do. I'm sure the Trumpster could summon one even if it's not on the itinerary.Think about it. Wouldn’t it be great to see and hear him sounding off on the "evil empire" as he stares right at it?Okay, I’m in a time warp. Wasn’t it Ronald Reagan who spoke of the old Soviet Union as the evil empire while urging Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down that wall?” Trump, whatever he's said, has yet to use that phrase while telling "little rocket man" in Pyongyang to stop brandishing his missiles.          Imagine if Trump were to change his mind and venture up to the DMZ. He could shock us all by talking nicely, pol

Nov 7, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Facing the summit

By Donald KirkDonald Trump faces obstacles when he gets to Seoul next week that have nothing to do with unruly mobs trying to shout loudly enough over mega-loudspeakers for him to hear them across rows of policemen in body armor.No doubt Trump's handlers will come up with the proper verbiage to reaffirm the historic bond between the two countries. Words and phrases like "ironclad" and "no daylight between us" come to mind. That's the American equivalent to the weird Chinese "as close as the lips to the teeth." Comforting statements gushing from the Trumpster and his entourage might remind us of another line, "The more things change, the more they remain the same."The first problem that needs covering up with bland clichés is simple: the U.S. and Republic of Korea leaders may not think alike on North Korea.Yes, President Moon Jae-in has "disappointed" pro-Northers by supporting rather strong UN sanctions against North Korea. He has also gone along with the U.S.-ROK military exercises and intimidation flights of U.S. and South Korean warplanes across South Korea after North Kore

Nov 2, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Japan's militarist dreams

By Donald Kirk TOKYO ― The overwhelming success of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the latest elections for members of the Japanese “Diet” ― the peculiar word for Japan’s parliament or national assembly ― portends hardening of tensions and priorities in Northeast Asia.Yes, Abe would dearly like to revise Japan’s post-war “peace constitution” whose Article 9 declares “land, sea and air force will never be maintained” and “belligerency of the state will not be recognized” (hence the term “self-defense forces” for Japan’s military establishment). In fact, one reason Abe called the snap election was to shore up his popularity, to show he was in charge after his ratings fell to 30 percent a few months ago.Abe, however, faces widespread opposition to revising the constitution, foisted on Japan by the victorious American General Douglas MacArthur during the U.S. “occupation” that followed Japan’s defeat in World War II.For sure Japanese rightists feel it’s high time to disc

Oct 26, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Showing off military might

By Donald KirkThe line-up of warplanes on display beside the runway at Seoul Air Base has got to be intimidating. The sight of the latest American F35s and F22s along with all those South Korean fighters may frighten anyone contemplating war on the Korean Peninsula. They’re parked near spacious exhibition halls where manufacturers from dozens of nations show off aircraft components, and entire planes and helicopters, for potential buyers from around the world.The Seoul Air Show this week could hardly be better timed. While planes of all sorts are strutting their stuff, roaring around above spectators, about 40 U.S. and Korean warships are churning the surf off both coasts in what is ostensibly a training mission but is really a show of force. On the first day of the air show and the war games came news that Donald Trump will be in Seoul next month meeting President Moon Jae-in and addressing the National Assembly.The visit should solidify ideas and strategy while North Korea’s Kim Jong-un shows no signs of compromising on his nukes and missiles. Trump will get to Seoul af

Oct 19, 2017By Donald Kirk

Donald Kirk

Read more

Playing the waiting game

Trump's 'intelligence' problem

Meaning of a missile test

To sanction or not to sanction?

Trump's magical mystery tour

Trump talking tough

Tear down that wall

Facing the summit

Japan's militarist dreams

Showing off military might

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