North Korea Surprised the U.S.?

Published in Zaobao
(China) on 24 December 2010
by Wen Yi (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Meghan McGrath. Edited by Sam Carter.
The tense situation on the Korean Peninsula has saved the declining sales of newspapers, with the situation occupying the headlines in major newspapers around the world for up to a month now with no signs of stopping.

China described the significance of North Korea using its own very popular phrase — "interdependent" — and, indeed, the distance from the Chinese capital of Beijing to the Korean peninsula is but a few hundred kilometers. If the situation were to get out of control, it would presumably reach China’s drinking pot. Back in the days of the Korean War, it seemed as though both China and the U.S. did not want to proceed because the final result was nothing less than lose-lose. Up until now, the image of DPRK in the eyes if the world has been the result of America’s “the Axis of Evil” propaganda. Do not follow routine card tricks, for it will deepen people’s conception of Korea’s irresponsibility and bad image.

While we are all worried about whether Korea is capable of having a strong response and their military bombardment exercises, the Korean government's response was that it really was an accident. The DPRK not only does not have the strength to fight back, but it is visiting the United States through the word of mouth of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, indicating its readiness to welcome the inspectors to return to North Korea. Korea is constantly changing, which of course makes sense, but it is not difficult to glimpse the well-intentioned and careful deliberations using a cooperative attitude and speech in response to verbal threats. As deterioration of the situation in the region takes place, the blame gets pushed towards America; and even if the inspectors return to North Korea, North Korea has the final say in what they check and how they check it. So we try to understand this statement as merely a gesture or plan of convenience. North Korea only said this for the sake of foreign affairs, and its words are not sincere.

Perhaps you will wonder what China's role is in this, but we happened to use two words to describe it: "low profile”. China has not expressed support for the any side or position. The parties have been calling for calm and restraint, which may seem like old-fashioned diplomacy, but in fact this strategy is being used by all, and especially North Korea. To gain time, North Korea will avoid making irrational moves. Now that Korea has made its move (by not making a move), the ball has been kicked to the United States. We will have to wait and see the response from the U.S.!


朝鲜半岛的紧张局势拯救了多少销售量滑坡的报刊,它占据世界各大主要报刊头版头条的时间长达一个月之久,至今尚未见停息。

  中国形容朝鲜对自己的意义时有句话很脍炙人口——“唇亡齿寒”,的确,朝鲜半岛与中国直接接壤,距中国首都北京的距离也不过几百公里,一旦局势失控,想必也够中国喝一壶的,当年的抗美援朝战争,若非中美两国都不想再进行下去,最终的结果也无外乎是两败俱伤。时至今日,朝鲜在世界人民心目中的形象完全被美国人的“邪恶轴心”国家的宣传所固化,不按套路出牌的伎俩更加深了人们对于朝鲜不负责任、喜欢挑衅的不好印象。可这样的局面的结果反倒促使朝鲜“一不做二不休”,对美国人顽抗到底。

  当大家都在为朝鲜会不会强力回应此次韩国炮击演练这个问题而担心时,朝鲜官方的回应却着实让人们意外,朝鲜非但没有强力回击,反而通过正在朝鲜访问的美国新墨西哥州长理查德森的口,表明了自己随时准备欢迎核查人员重返朝鲜。说朝鲜变化无常,当然有道理,但是我们不难窥探出它的用心良苦和深思熟虑,用合作的姿态和言语回应威胁,把地区局势恶化的责任推给美国人,而即便核查人员重返朝鲜又能如何,朝鲜只是宣布可以让他们检查,但是至于检查什么,怎么检查,都是朝鲜说了算的,所以这个表态我们尽量理解为只是一种姿态,或者说是权宜之计,朝鲜只为争夺外交主动权,他的言辞并不诚恳。

  也许大家会怀疑中国的作用体现在哪呢,然而我们正巧可以用一个词来形容——“韬光养晦”,中国没有正面表态支持哪一方,一直都在呼吁各方冷静克制,看似古板的外交辞令,其实是在为各国尤其是朝鲜争取时间,避免其作出不理性的举动出来。朝鲜如此一来的表现,就将博弈的皮球踢给了美国,下面就看美国如何回应了!
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