What North Korea wants
Posted: Monday, June 08, 2009 12:10 PM by Domenico Montanaro
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Andrea Mitchell, State Dept.
From NBC’s Andrea Mitchell
As was written about earlier today on First Read, President Obama is deeply concerned about the conviction of the two journalists in North Korea, and the U.S is doing everything possible through diplomatic channels to secure their release, the White House says.
An identical statement was issued by the State Department. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with the North, but has been working through Sweden's ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in Pyongyang. However, he was not even permitted to attend the trial as an observer -- despite repeated requests from the U.S.
Video: Andrea Mitchell weighs in on the two U.S. journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.
U.S. officials believe the North is trying to use the women as bargaining chips in ongoing negotiations with the West. On ABC Sunday, Secretary Clinton emphasized that the women's fates should be treated as a humanitarian issue. Clearly, the U.S. is trying to keep this case separate from the more difficult political and security disagreements with the North.
The Obama team's assumption is that the women's trial is wrapped up in the succession struggle. Last week, the regime let it be known that ailing leader Kim Jong Il would be succeeded by his youngest son. That could be an indication that the military is really in charge, and that the son is merely a figurehead.
The Obama national security team believes that North Korea wants recognition as a nuclear power and will not agree to give up its nuclear program -- despite past promises. That has led to a re-examination of past negotiating tactics, which have proved unsuccessful.
Secretary Clinton also indicated on Sunday that the U.S. is trying to get China's support for an American initiative to board North Korean ships and intercept any illegal nuclear or missile cargo. The United Nations had given provisional approval to the interception program in the past, but with very ambiguous wording, and it was never implemented.
Clinton also say the U.S. is getting closer to an agreement at the U.N. on even tougher new financial sanctions. Approval would require a change of posture by both China and Russia, who have blocked previous resolutions.
Now that there has been a verdict and sentencing, there is also talk of sending an envoy to the North, possibly Al Gore, who leads Current TV -- the organization for whom the two journalists were working. Some experts predict that now that the Korean court -- from which there is no legal appeal -- has convicted the women, the North would be open to releasing them.
