FREEDOM: The two American journalists released from North Korea with former President Bill Clinton in Burbank Airport, Los Angeles. (Ji Yuan / The Epoch Times)
Compare this to the subservience the Chinese communist regime showed after Russia sank a Chinese cargo freighter and closed down a Chinese market in Russia, and to the Chinese regime’s ignorance when Indonesian mobs massacred and attacked local Chinese people in 1998. One is struck by the huge difference between democratic governments and autocratic regimes.
Many people think the rescue has enhanced Clinton’s personal image, but Clinton himself does not see it that way. The Korean Daily News (Chosun Ilbo), mocked Clinton as the “the world's most powerful non-governmental person," and Kim Jong-il as "the world's most dangerous Korean."
When the two met each other, Clinton looked submissive with a tense expression, while Kim Jong-il was happy and laughing. One could see who was more “powerful” and who felt victorious just by a look at this photo.
U.S. officials said Clinton did not apologize to North Korea for the American journalists’ behavior, but the North Korean newspapers reported that Clinton showed “deep regret.”
Whether Clinton apologized or not, or was unwilling to admit to an apology, it indicated that an apology was not appropriate. What crime did the two American TV journalists (one born in China, one in Korea) commit by filming on the Chinese side of the Tumen River?
Even if they accidentally entered North Korean territory, it had nothing to do with “damaging the human rights situation in North Korea, or isolating and stifling the socialist system in North Korea.”
Since there is nothing to be apologized for, what’s the purpose of Kim Jong-il’s arrest of the journalists and wanting Clinton to visit North Korea to apologize?
First of all, Kim Jong-il is ill and his days are numbered. Although he creates trouble viciously in the international community, his real hope is to imitate the model of India and Pakistan in order to get the U.S. and western countries’ acknowledgement of North Korea as a nuclear state.
Kim Jong-il knows there is little hope that he can invite Obama to visit North Korea and thus get endorsed by the United States. However, if he can invite Former President Clinton, he can create a false impression and use it to enhance both his personal image and the status of his successor, his youngest son Kim Jeong-yun.
It’s a similar mentality to that of Kim Il Sung who, when gravely ill, invited Former President Jimmy Carter, and Mao Zedong invited Nixon. Although on the surface the autocratic tyrants look strong, they are hollow inside.
Second, Kim Jong Il, who has suffered a lot of humiliation from the international media, now caught an opportunity to humiliate the Clintons. Although Kim Jong-il hates Bush, he cannot do anything to him.
At the end of 2000, Kim Jong Il intended to invite Clinton to North Korea before Clinton left the oval office, but Clinton refused because of North Korea’s nuclear issue. Since Kim Jong Il failed to invite Clinton at that time, he now forced him to visit North Korea this time.
Though Hillary had written a letter to apologize and ask North Korea to release the journalists, Kim Jong Il forced both of the Clintons to apologize and arranged a visit to North Korea. Thus, though Clinton’s trip to North Korea seemed successful, there was a hidden aspect.
Finally, Kim Jong-il wants to use Clinton’s visit to create a fact of direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea in order to break the international sanctions.
Resolution 1874 of the U.N. Security Council took an unprecedentedly tough measure by imposing sanctions in different aspects on North Korea. The U.S. also demanded that North Korea return to the six-party talks. Kim Jong-il has been finding ways to shake off the shackles of the six-party talks and have a direct dialogue with the United States.
After Clinton's visit, North Korea said Clinton conveyed Obama’s message. They exchanged views about the suspension of talks between the two nations and reached a solution.
Though the U.S. denied it, Clinton’s visit has resulted in the fact of a direct dialogue between the two countries. This creates a dangerous precedent—a country can still negotiate with the U.S. after being sanctioned by the U.N.
The sanction was broken because of the dialogue. Once there is such a precedent, Kim Jong Il can use it as a starting point. In addition, it will be more difficult for the U.S to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. This was the main purpose for Kim Jong-Il’s game of arresting and releasing people.
Through arresting and releasing the two journalists, Kim Jong-il not only achieved the goal of having a direct dialogue with the United States, but also won the appreciation of the people he released. Under the atmosphere of the happy ending, North Korea’s unreasonable and inhumane deed was covered instead. In fact, though Clinton’s trip was a success, it also sent out a signal worthy of deep thought.
