Sometimes we have to accept that perception might as well be reality.
North Koreans do recall a bitter war with the United States in which they believe (real to them) that they were attacked first. Now prior to the war the US signaled that Korea was outside its area of strategic concern, so let's say for arguments sake that the North thought it had a green light to go south.
Here it is for you to see:
http://web.viu.ca/davies/H323Vietnam/Acheson.htm
EXCERPTS FROM ACHESON'S SPEECH TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
JANUARY 12, 1950
This afternoon I should like to discuss with you the relations between the peoples of the United States and the peoples of Asia....
What is the situation in regard to the military security of the Pacific area, and what is our policy in regard to it?
In the first place, the defeat and the disarmament of Japan has placed upon the United States the necessity of assuming the military defense of Japan so long as that is required, both in the interest of our security and in the interests of the security of the entire Pacific area and, in all honor, in the interest of Japanese security. We have American, and there are Australian troops in Japan. I am not in a position to speak for the Australians, but I can assure you that there is no intention of any sort of abandoning or weakening the defenses of Japan, and that whatever arrangements are to be made, either through permanent settlement or otherwise, that defense must and shall be maintained.
This defensive perimeter runs along the Aleutians to Japan and then goes to the Ryukyus. We hold important defense positions in the Ryukyu Islands, and those we will continue to hold. In the interest of the population of the Ryukyu Islands, we will at an appropriate time offer to hold these islands under trusteeship of the United Nations. But they are essential parts of the defensive perimeter of the Pacific, and they must and will be held.
The defensive perimeter runs from Ryukyus to the Philippine Islands. Our relations, our defensive relations with the Philippines are contained in agreements between us. Those agreements are being loyally carried out and will be loyally carried out. Both peoples have learned by bitter experience the vital connections between our mutual defense requirements.
So far as the military security of other areas in the Pacific is concerned, it must be clear that no person can guarantee these areas against military attack. But it must also be clear that such a guarantee is hardly sensible or necessary within the realm of practical relationship.
Should such an attack occur, one hesitates to say where such an armed attack could come from, the initial reliance must be on the people attacked to resist it and then upon the commitments of the entire civilized world under the Charter of the United Nations, which so far has not proved a weak reed to lean on by any people who are determined to protect their independence against outside aggression. But it is a mistake, I think, in considering Pacific and Far Eastern problems to become obsessed with military considerations. Important as they are, there are other problem that press, and these other problems are not capable of solution through military means. These other problems arise out of the susceptibility of many areas, and many countries in the Pacific area, to subversion and penetration. That cannot be stopped by military means....
. . . What we conclude, I believe, is that there is a new day which has dawned in Asia. It is a day in which the Asian peoples are on their own, and know it, and intend to continue on their own. It is a day in which the old relationships between east and west are gone, relationships which at their worst were exploitation and at their best were paternalism. That relationship is over, and the relationship of east and west must now be in the Far East one of mutual respect and mutual helpfulness. We are their friends. Others are their friends. We and those others are willing to help, but we can help only where we are wanted and only where conditions of help are really sensible and possible. So what we can see is that this new day in Asia, this new day which is dawning, may go on to a glorious noon or it may darken and it may drizzle out. But that decision lies within the countries of Asia and within the power of the Asian people. It is not a decision which a friend or even an enemy from the outside can make for them.
This will remind students of recent middle east history of the US
green light that was given to Iraq's Saddam to go into Kuwait.
So the North's leaders look at Saddam, who after all helped the US against Iran. What a payback he got!
Then Ghadaffi helps the US war on terror. He ends up on a meat hook. Iraq ends up destroyed.
So the US wants to have a military exercise on the border with North Korea. Well, how nice, and with atomic submarines, stealth bomber and fighter planes that can evade North Korean defenses, and lots and lots of troops. And don't forget CIA asset Manny Noriega and what happened to Panama.
Well, the leader of North Korea might want to convey a simple message: "My name is not Saddam Hussein nor is it Manny Noriega. This place I am in charge of is not Iraq or Panama."
Let's see if this is where Chuck Hagel pulls a rabbit out of a hat.
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