President Obama’s administration is very thankful for the positive media surrounding the North Korean nuclear weapons negotiation peace talk because North Korea tried to ship nuclear weapon manufacturing equipment to Iran recently, luckily, that shipment was stopped in the UAE and inspected. The label said it was oil field equipment, yet, it turned out to be materials needed to build nuclear weapons.

Additionally, there are many questions that are not being asked, that should be. Namely; why is it that “no one” is addressing the reality that China originally sold all the nuclear technology and long-range missile systems to North Korea in the first place, which North Korea quickly replicated and reverse engineered? China is part of the problem here, and therefore, ought to be expelled from the talks, but agree to “harsh” and even devastating economic sanctions.

Some military intelligence analysts believe that China doesn’t want the North Korean nuclear problem solved any time soon, because they realize it is a thorn in the side of the US military, bogging them down in the region and China doesn’t want any interference from the United States in the future when it tries to take Taiwan back into its arms.

China also doesn’t want to be told what to do, or be bothered in Burma, Tibet, or other areas along its southern border where separatist groups are causing the Chinese government problems. Suffice it to say, China, or much of its military leadership probably would like to see the North Korean standoff with the United States last for a decade or more.

Therefore, they don’t believe it is in their best interest to see any conclusion to this standoff. Thus, in my humble opinion it is completely laughable that China is involved in four party talks, if anything they will work strategically to undermine the negotiation.

President Bush had called North Korea part of the “Axis of Evil”?. This of course insulted many North Koreans and the United States was subsequently identified by North Korea’s leader as evil. It is well-known that the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, is a tight-handed dictator. He has never allowed himself to be interviewed. He is not an elected president, so there is no vote to keep him in power. He retains power through his authority over all aspects of North Korean life.

There is only one television channel in the country, and only 10% of the population own television sets. The Western world is effectively kept at bay.So an American orchestra being invited into North Korea had huge political implications. There is no doubt that for many people, this was their first experience of Western music. Kim Jong-il rules by an all-pervasive “cult of personality” in North Korea. As far as music is concerned, North Koreans love music, but the only music allowed is that which supports him and Communism. The implications of the symphony’s visit deepen.

North Koreans are forbidden to perform, sing, or listen to any other music, even in the privacy of their own homes. Those who were caught doing so in the past were arrested and, in some cases, tortured and imprisoned for years. Imagine what passed through these people’s minds as they watched the Philharmonic’s performance! Should they show emotion? Would their names be taken down? Defectors from North Korea to other countries watched in amazement.

Korean listeners heard the American National Anthem played. Orchestra members were amazed also. They didn’t know what to expect, and at first the audience was quiet and stone-faced. But soon smiles appeared, and after the finale of a popular Korean folk tune, the audience exploded into smiles, cheers and applause, with audience and orchestra waving to each other.