Opinion | Editorials
North Korea tries to get off the hook
North Korea is a failing nation, unable to feed itself and run by a wily autocrat who cares little for his people and more about his own survival.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:21 November 14, 2008
North Korea is a failing nation, unable to feed itself and run by a wily autocrat who cares little for his people and more about his own survival. His suffering people are dependent for their food on continuing aid from China and halted aid from South Korea.
North Korea is ready to offend both its neighbours. It will close its borders to South Korea on December 1, cutting off access to southern tourists and to the South's major investments in the North. North Korea has also closed the major routes on its northern border into China, its major and only long-term ally.
In addition, North Korea has said that international inspectors may not remove nuclear samples from its nuclear plant in Yongbyon that produces weapons-grade plutonium. This move could stop the deal with the United States, which hinges on North Korea disarming in return for aid.
North Korea has wanted to lash out at South Korea ever since President Lee Myung-bak took over in February. He is a political conservative who has stopped all free aid to the North until North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons programme.
Secondly, the North Koreans also hope that their sabre-rattling sends a message to incoming US president Barack Obama, seeking a more gentle approach from the new US administration.
The fact is that North Korea is a slow-motion disaster and any other nation dealing with it knows that in time, the regime will implode and mass starvation and desperation will hit the population very hard. Eventually, reunification is the only answer, as the vibrant and effective government in South Korea shoulders responsibility for the whole nation.
Reunification will be horrifyingly expensive, but is the only way forward, as with Germany. China has not told its client-ally that its time has come, so the bizarre rule of the Kim dynasty continues, to the misery of its people.
The Land Department's latest communique on allowing developers to keep 30 per cent of the sum paid in advance for properties by buyers in case they decide to withdraw, cancel, default in payment or breach contract - might reduce panic selling of properties. However, this could be counter-productive in the long run, as new buyers will be discouraged to buy.
If the sole objective of this attempt is to stop panic selling and save the property sector from collapsing and to punish speculators, the Land Department could be given credit for that. However, this does not address a number of issues hampering the growth of Dubai's real estate including project delays - a chronic problem.
Should the buyer not be given an option to walk out if the developer defaults on construction schedule, delivery? Aimed at punishing speculators, this interpretation has overlooked other major aspects.
If the current impasse continues for more than six months, Dubai's developers will have to depend on new buyers. Land Department's latest interpretation of Article No 11 of Law No 13 of 2008, will eventually discourage new buyers from entering the market, as they will fear getting stuck and losing money in case the developer faults or delays in construction. As the property prices fall to realistic levels, the government should encourage the end users to buy properties. Such instructions will not serve that purpose.
The recent announcement by Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur is a welcome call, given the endless problems that the region has been experiencing so far. "I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is out in action and is observed by all involved parties", he said.
Al Bashir had also called for the disarmament of the militia and expressed the government's commitment to it.
But a call as such would require efforts to push it forward if it is to succeed, as there have been similar steps before, all of which did not bear any fruitful or lasting results.
The conflict still exists and opinions on issues are as divided as they had been in the past. In order for this attempt to become a reality, all parties have to commit themselves to the final resolution.
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