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Comment RSSNorth Korean envoy to the inauguration?
January 12, 2009 # 3:17 am # news # No CommentIf things cannot get any stranger, it could have if this offer was accepted.
North Korea offered to send its chief nuclear negotiator to next week’s inauguration of US President-elect Barack Obama, but Washington has responded coolly, South Korean news reports said Monday.
It would be historical to say the least, but would be a political disaster if it was accepted. Apparently, it was turned down, thank goodness:
“I’ve heard negative opinions far outpaced the positive views,” the source added, referring to the response from the Obama team.
“Pyongyang may be trying to test the political waters in the Obama administration by watching Washington’s response.”
Yonhap news agency, citing a diplomatic source, said the North’s proposal had been turned down because of US scepticism.
Emphasis mine. You think? If it were accepted, it would be cannon fodder, and Obama cannot afford ant more embarrassments at this point in time. After all, it would not be very smart even before sitting down in the President’s seat to have pressure from all sides wondering why in the world he let the foremost violator of human rights to be part of the innaguration.
I do agree the request was symbolic and a way to test the waters. While I do not have high hopes things will change with this administration like past administrations, this obviously is not the way to start things off.
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