Toyota

Financial Times London

North Korea warms to Kerry presidency bid

By Andrew Ward in Seoul and James Harding in Washington
Published: March 4 2004 20:24 | Last Updated: March 4 2004 20:24


North Korea's state-controlled media are well known for reverential
reporting about Kim Jong-il, the country's dictatorial leader.


But the Dear Leader is not the only one getting deferential treatment
from the communist state's propaganda machine: John Kerry, the
presumptive Democratic candidate, is also getting good play in
Pyongyang.

In the past few weeks, speeches by the Massachusetts senator have been
broadcast on Radio Pyongyang and reported in glowing terms by the
Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), the official mouthpiece of Mr Kim's
communist regime.

The apparent enthusiasm for Mr Kerry may reflect little more than a
"better the devil you don't know" mentality among the North Korean
apparatchiks. Rather than dealing with President George W. Bush and
hawkish officials in his administration, Pyongyang seems to hope
victory for the Democratic candidate on November 2 would lead to a
softening in US policy towards the country's nuclear weapons
programme.

But both Mr Kerry and Mr Bush are committed to North Korean
disarmament. Mr Kerry, however, would renew bilateral negotiations
between Washington and Pyongyang, while Mr Bush has sought to manage
the conversation with North Korea through multilateral talks. Mr Kerry
has also been more forthright about setting out the economic rewards
for North Korea if it disarms.

The Bush administration appears in no hurry to tackle the North Korea
issue before the election, aware that a US compromise with Pyongyang
would represent an embarrassing climbdown, while confrontation would
risk a bloody - and electorally disastrous - war.

If North Korea is hoping that a Democratic victory would herald a
return to Bill Clinton's policy of engagement with Pyongyang, then
Gordon Flake, head of the Mansfield Centre for Pacific Affairs in
Washington, cautions Mr Kim against expecting too much from Mr Kerry.
"It would be harder for a Democratic president to do a deal because
there would be a lot of pressure on him not to be a soft touch," he
says.

Either way, the North Korean media is a constituency Mr Kerry could do
without. Second only to the warm words Mr Kerry has enjoyed from Jane
Fonda, the actress and antiwar liberal who is still a bugbear of the
American right, a signal of support from the Dear Leader will delight
conservative talk-show hosts and Republicans eager to paint Mr Kerry
as soft on national security.

A small group of Vietnam veterans has already branded Mr Kerry as
"Hanoi John" - a reference to his antiwar activities in 1971 after he
returned from serving in Vietnam.

Mr Kerry was first introduced to North Korea's information-starved
people in early February, when Radio Pyongyang reported that opinion
polls indicated he was likely to defeat Mr Bush.

A few days later, the station broadcast comments by Mr Kerry
criticising Mr Bush for deceiving the world about Iraq's elusive
weapons of mass destruction. Later in February, KCNA welcomed Mr
Kerry's pledge to adopt a more "sincere attitude" towards North Korea
if elected.

"Senator Kerry, who is seeking the presidential candidacy of the
Democratic Party, sharply criticised President Bush, saying it was an
ill-considered act to deny direct dialogue with North Korea," said the
news agency.

Pyongyang's friendly attitude towards Mr Kerry contrasts with its
strong anti-Bush rhetoric.



Scott in Florida

In article <>,
Scott in Florida <'t> wrote:

>
> toryFT&cid=1078381535832&p=1012571727088
>
> Financial Times London
>
> North Korea warms to Kerry presidency bid
>
> By Andrew Ward in Seoul and James Harding in Washington
> Published: March 4 2004 20:24 | Last Updated: March 4 2004 20:24
>
>
> North Korea's state-controlled media are well known for reverential
> reporting about Kim Jong-il, the country's dictatorial leader.
>
>
> But the Dear Leader is not the only one getting deferential treatment
> from the communist state's propaganda machine: John Kerry, the
> presumptive Democratic candidate, is also getting good play in
> Pyongyang.
>
> In the past few weeks, speeches by the Massachusetts senator have been
> broadcast on Radio Pyongyang and reported in glowing terms by the
> Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), the official mouthpiece of Mr Kim's
> communist regime.
>
> The apparent enthusiasm for Mr Kerry may reflect little more than a
> "better the devil you don't know" mentality among the North Korean
> apparatchiks. Rather than dealing with President George W. Bush and
> hawkish officials in his administration, Pyongyang seems to hope
> victory for the Democratic candidate on November 2 would lead to a
> softening in US policy towards the country's nuclear weapons
> programme.
>
> But both Mr Kerry and Mr Bush are committed to North Korean
> disarmament. Mr Kerry, however, would renew bilateral negotiations
> between Washington and Pyongyang, while Mr Bush has sought to manage
> the conversation with North Korea through multilateral talks. Mr Kerry
> has also been more forthright about setting out the economic rewards
> for North Korea if it disarms.
>
> The Bush administration appears in no hurry to tackle the North Korea
> issue before the election, aware that a US compromise with Pyongyang
> would represent an embarrassing climbdown, while confrontation would
> risk a bloody - and electorally disastrous - war.
>
> If North Korea is hoping that a Democratic victory would herald a
> return to Bill Clinton's policy of engagement with Pyongyang, then
> Gordon Flake, head of the Mansfield Centre for Pacific Affairs in
> Washington, cautions Mr Kim against expecting too much from Mr Kerry.
> "It would be harder for a Democratic president to do a deal because
> there would be a lot of pressure on him not to be a soft touch," he
> says.
>
> Either way, the North Korean media is a constituency Mr Kerry could do
> without. Second only to the warm words Mr Kerry has enjoyed from Jane
> Fonda, the actress and antiwar liberal who is still a bugbear of the
> American right, a signal of support from the Dear Leader will delight
> conservative talk-show hosts and Republicans eager to paint Mr Kerry
> as soft on national security.
>
> A small group of Vietnam veterans has already branded Mr Kerry as
> "Hanoi John" - a reference to his antiwar activities in 1971 after he
> returned from serving in Vietnam.
>
> Mr Kerry was first introduced to North Korea's information-starved
> people in early February, when Radio Pyongyang reported that opinion
> polls indicated he was likely to defeat Mr Bush.
>
> A few days later, the station broadcast comments by Mr Kerry
> criticising Mr Bush for deceiving the world about Iraq's elusive
> weapons of mass destruction. Later in February, KCNA welcomed Mr
> Kerry's pledge to adopt a more "sincere attitude" towards North Korea
> if elected.
>
> "Senator Kerry, who is seeking the presidential candidacy of the
> Democratic Party, sharply criticised President Bush, saying it was an
> ill-considered act to deny direct dialogue with North Korea," said the
> news agency.
>
> Pyongyang's friendly attitude towards Mr Kerry contrasts with its
> strong anti-Bush rhetoric.
>
>
>
> Scott in Florida

Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
they'd raid the coop.

Dale
--

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:

>In article <>,
> Scott in Florida <'t> wrote:
>

>>
>> Pyongyang's friendly attitude towards Mr Kerry contrasts with its
>> strong anti-Bush rhetoric.
>>
>>
>>
>> Scott in Florida
>
>Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
>they'd raid the coop.
>
>Dale

I'm a believer in speaking softly and carrying a big stick as American
policy.

I guess you guys like big talk and no action. Like Bush and Korea.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:


>
>Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
>they'd raid the coop.
>
>Dale

Exactly.

There are a LOT of bad guys around the world wishing Kerry would
win...


Scott in Florida

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 21:24:51 GMT, Scott in Florida
<'t> wrote:

>On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
>>they'd raid the coop.
>>
>>Dale
>
>Exactly.
>
>There are a LOT of bad guys around the world wishing Kerry would
>win...

And thinking individuals see just why this is so, as well as looking
at the reasons our enemies would want a Bush defeat.

Those who fail to understand this reality are just not worth spit.


-------------------------------------------------------
"We must never attempt to use the UN as a substitute
for clear and resolute U.S. policy." - Barry Goldwater

"Scott in Florida" <'t> wrote in message
news:
> On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
> >they'd raid the coop.
> >
> >Dale
>
> Exactly.
>
> There are a LOT of bad guys around the world wishing Kerry would
> win...

Not Ken Lay. He'd lose his protector.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 15:20:55 -0600, will
<> wrote:

>On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:
>
>>In article <>,
>> Scott in Florida <'t> wrote:
>>
>
>>>
>>> Pyongyang's friendly attitude towards Mr Kerry contrasts with its
>>> strong anti-Bush rhetoric.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Scott in Florida
>>
>>Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
>>they'd raid the coop.
>>
>>Dale
>
>I'm a believer in speaking softly and carrying a big stick as American
>policy.
>
>I guess you guys like big talk and no action. Like Bush and Korea.
>

LOL

You'll see our big stick in Korea soon....


Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <'t> wrote in message
news:
> On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 15:20:55 -0600, will
> <> wrote:
>
> >On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 17:18:01 GMT, <> wrote:
> >
> >>In article <>,
> >> Scott in Florida <'t> wrote:
> >>
> >
> >>>
> >>> Pyongyang's friendly attitude towards Mr Kerry contrasts with its
> >>> strong anti-Bush rhetoric.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Scott in Florida
> >>
> >>Good reason not to vote for Kerry, he'd throw cream puffs at them and
> >>they'd raid the coop.
> >>
> >>Dale
> >
> >I'm a believer in speaking softly and carrying a big stick as American
> >policy.
> >
> >I guess you guys like big talk and no action. Like Bush and Korea.
> >
>
> LOL
>
> You'll see our big stick in Korea soon....
>
>
> Scott in Florida

Shows how stupid you guys are. We will never use military action
in N Korea. Doing so would be devastating to S.Korea. A
crazy man who thinks he's a God with nukes and one of the
largest armies in the world lined up on the S Korea border is looking
for a reason to use them. Seoul would be leveled.
Even Bush is smart enough to know that.

On Fri, 5 Mar 2004 13:51:34 -0800, "TomH" <>
wrote:


>Shows how stupid you guys are. We will never use military action
>in N Korea. Doing so would be devastating to S.Korea. A
>crazy man who thinks he's a God with nukes and one of the
>largest armies in the world lined up on the S Korea border is looking
>for a reason to use them. Seoul would be leveled.
>Even Bush is smart enough to know that.
>
>

You, obviously, don't have a clue about the US Military...

North Korea would be about a month war...at best...



Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Mar 2004 13:51:34 -0800, "TomH" <>
> wrote:
>
>
>> Shows how stupid you guys are. We will never use military action
>> in N Korea. Doing so would be devastating to S.Korea. A
>> crazy man who thinks he's a God with nukes and one of the
>> largest armies in the world lined up on the S Korea border is looking
>> for a reason to use them. Seoul would be leveled.
>> Even Bush is smart enough to know that.
>>
>>
>
> You, obviously, don't have a clue about the US Military...
>
> North Korea would be about a month war...at best...
>
LOL Get real, we won't be fighting sand n.....................!! ;o)