Blog Entry #6

Title: Obama Takes Stern Tone With North Korea and Iran

Summary: On Obama's trip to Asia he stopped in North Korea to speak with the North Korean president about his nuclear weapons program. When Obama spoke, he took a very "stern tone" and told N.K. that they would need to disband their programs to be back in the U.N. Obama also spoke about/to Iran about their failure to respond to the proposal given to they by the U.N. The North Korean president acknowledged the pattern that has been cycling between N.K. and the U.N. First North Korea does something provocative or shady .Then they go to the U.N. meetings .They then talk and then they leave the talks and continues their programs. North Korea acknowledged their disregard and then promised to change, again.

Reflection: It came as no surprise that North Korea said they would change their derelict ways. This is roughly the tenth time they have promised to do so. Obama also spoke about Iran's continued non compliance/ignorance of the U.N.'s proposal to take their plutonium and make them into rods for fuel. At this point I am very doubtful that North Korea or Iran will change their methods.

Evidence:

• Obama had a press conference in North Korea
• North Korea acknowledged their mistakes and promised to change
• Obama quite plainly told them that it would be difficult for them to get back to the table with the U.N.
• North Korea's president has been criticized for sending a small number of troops to Afghanistan to help the Americans there
  

Questions: Will North Korea keep to their promises this time? What will Iran say in response to Obama's words about them?Are either of these countries going to actually do what they say they are going to do or are they just buying time?

Citation: all info found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html