Geopolitical Factor - The North Korean Sham

We had some important news from a member of the "Axis of Evil" yesterday and today. North Korea has reportedly agreed to end its nuclear weapons program in exchange for a hefty energy payoff. Some argue that if ratified by the governments of the negotiating states, this sends a message that if you build a nuclear program, you will eventually benefit in an economic sense. There is a serious flaw to this argument, as the cost of developing nuclear weapons was quite heavy on North Korea, plunging it into isolation and poverty. And let's not forget that the government also became threatened as a result.

We wonder if North Korea's incentive was one other than energy needs. The country has been swallowed by darkness long enough to be well use to it by now, so can we say that they were suffering too much and finally gave in to sanctions. I doubt it. This deal is reminiscent to one agreed upon by the Clinton administration, after which it was discovered that the North broke its part of the deal. The government in Pyongyang is not one that can be trusted on its word. I agree with the Bush administration on this one, there is no dealing with the regime in North Korea.

Wall Street Greek theorizes that the North Korean motive may be much more complex than is immediately clear. Sure, the energy offerings are desperately needed in the starving nation, but we suspect the reasoning for this deal is much more ominous than you would immediately suspect. In recent weeks, rumors have surfaced that North Korean scientists may be on the ground in Iran, assisting the Iranians with preparations for a nuclear test and missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload long distances. We think that it's not out of the question that the money hungry North may have already sold weaponry and technology to the likes of the oil rich Iran and money-loaded al Qaeda. Perhaps this deal should be looked at as a possible signal that the explosion of a nuclear weapon on American soil may not be so fictional as seen on the hit show 24. Maybe, it's even imminent.

If such an explosion were to occur, the U.S. would immediately look for ties between nuclear ready nations and nations and organizations with the will to use them. We believe North Korea would clearly suffer the repercussions of that likely association. This deal seems to seek to set North Korea on the path toward entry into the league of nations and away from association with nuclear proliferation. In any event, we do not expect North Korea to be exempted from any counteraction due to this sham. If this deal is ratified, we must also question what happens to the enriched material the country already possesses, the bombs it has already assembled and the weaponry and technology it has already sold.

(disclosure)