HOW US MUST DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA
I have been in the US government and national security field for more than 20 years, and I agree with J. Michael Cole's premise (http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2013/0410/Obama-must-throw-North-Korea-a-curve-ball-a-helping-US-hand) in the Commentary spread "2 bold ideas to end North Korea's cycle of threats" in the April 22 & 29 issue. The Obama administration needs to use soft diplomatic power. However, I do not believe that the Obama administration truly understands what the Kim Jong-un regime is or what Mr. Kim's aspirations are.
As his father's successor, Kim needs to coordinate and consolidate his power. He is fully aware of Pyongyang's political fragility, held together only by the weight of the military. He must balance the interests of the military with domestic frustrations over neglect of the people as a result of Pyongyang's disastrous military-first policy.
It appears that Kim is pursuing this equilibrium by appeasing the military's intent to join the "nuclear club" while also garnering support from his domestic base by unifying the country against an exterior influence or foe.
I believe Kim is intelligent and unfortunately underestimated by the United States and South Korea. He has accomplished what his father failed to do – ultimately bringing his country to the table for bilateral talks with the US and potentially earning North Korea status as a "nuclear club" member.
Anthony Demestihas
Arlington, Va. intercourse TRAFFICKING HITS CLOSE TO HOME
The May 6 OneWeek section included a good piece ("A region's dubious rise" (http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2013/0423/FBI-Most-Wanted-caught-in-Nicaragua-What-draws-US-pedophiles-to-the-region)) on "American intercourse predators turning Central America into a near-shore tropical hideout" and law enforcement's efforts to catch them. But little was said about what is being done to help the victims. intercourse tourism often leads to cases of intercourse trafficking.
Does the average American know that this happens right in our own country? For instance, the Super Bowl attracts so many intercourse traffickers and intercourse tourists that it is commonly known as the largest human trafficking event in the United States. An estimated 100,000 children in the US are victims of intercourse trafficking. This is a grim reality, but it does not have to be our future.
Claire Amsden
Los Altos, Calif.Related stories
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Read this story at csmonitor.com (http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Letters-to-the-Editor/2013/0603/Readers-Write-How-US-must-deal-with-North-Korea-intercourse-trafficking-close-to-home)
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