[imText1]Claims have suggested that attempts by international societies to obstruct North Korea’s nuclear development plan have acted as a stumbling block to the South Korean governments’ policy toward North Korea.
Mark Fitzpatrick, senior researcher of Britain’s International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed in an interview with ‘Voice of America, VOA’ on the 13th that, “U.S. policy to financially oppress North Korea is not showing any real effect because of South Korea’s investments and commerce with North Korea.”
Additionally, he claimed “In regard to North Korea, China also has the same role as South Korea” and that “U.S. allies need to collaborate closely to solve North Korea’s nuclear problem and make it inactive.”
In regard to the most recent indications of Korea-U.S. disagreements, he pointed out that “It is because each have different understandings of the North Korean threat” and that “though the negotiations of U.S. Armed Forces soft strategy and negotiations of Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement is establishing a strong ally relationship, it is concerning that there is disagreement on tackling North Korea.”
Senior researcher Fitzpatrick recently published a report entitled the ‘2006 Equilibrium of Military Strength’, which denoted North Korea, together with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan as serious threats which could give rise to international crises.
“North Korea’s military strength, focusing on stationing the area of the Truce-Line … Seoul in great danger”
The reasons he viewed North Korea as a possible instigator of international crises were ▲ North Korea’s large scale military strength ▲ The fact that North Korea is using all its might to advance its nuclear bombs, and ballistic missiles ▲ They are unyielding to international affairs and take a pro-war stance.
Senior researcher Fitzpatrick premises that “South Korea is superior in economic development and technology, and compared to North Korea is dominant in every fighting power” however warned that “As North Korea is focusing its military strength on stationing the area of the Truce-Line, Seoul could well be hit.”
As for North Korea possessing a nuclear bomb at this present state “If you look at data assessed by intelligence agencies of various countries throughout the world, there is no margin to even suspect North Korea possesses a nuclear bomb” and revealed that “Our research institute believes North Korea is in possession of about 5~11 bombs.”
Furthermore “North Korea is waiting until the Bush Administration ends its term and leaves office” and analyzes that “The six-party talks to discuss the nuclear problem were deferred at the last presidential election, a delay strategy with the sole aim of waiting until the election was over.”
