Kerry gets dream run in North Korean media
The Straits Times (Asia) ^ | March 6, 2004 | Various
SEOUL - North Korea's state-controlled media is known for its reverential reporting on Mr Kim Jong-il.
But the Dear Leader is not the only one getting deferential treatment: Mr John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic candidate in the United States, is also getting good play in Pyongyang.
His speeches are being broadcast on Radio Pyongyang and reported in glowing terms by the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).
The apparent enthusiasm for Mr Kerry may reflect little more than a 'better the devil you don't know' mentality among the North Korean apparatchiks.
Rather than dealing with President George W. Bush and his hawkish officials, they seem to hope victory for Mr Kerry would lead to a softening in US policy towards their nuclear weapons programme.
But both Mr Kerry and Mr Bush are committed to North Korean disarmament.
Mr Kerry, however, would renew bilateral negotiations.
Mr Bush has sought to manage the conversation with North Korea through multilateral talks.
Mr Kerry has also been more forthright about setting out the economic rewards for North Korea if it disarms.
The Bush administration appears in no hurry to tackle the North Korea issue before the election, aware that a US compromise with Pyongyang would represent an embarrassing climbdown, while confrontation would risk a bloody - and electorally disastrous - war.
The North Korean media is a constituency Mr Kerry could do without.
A signal of support from the Dear Leader will delight those eager to paint him as soft on national security.
The Straits Times (Asia) ^ | March 6, 2004 | Various
SEOUL - North Korea's state-controlled media is known for its reverential reporting on Mr Kim Jong-il.
But the Dear Leader is not the only one getting deferential treatment: Mr John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic candidate in the United States, is also getting good play in Pyongyang.
His speeches are being broadcast on Radio Pyongyang and reported in glowing terms by the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).
The apparent enthusiasm for Mr Kerry may reflect little more than a 'better the devil you don't know' mentality among the North Korean apparatchiks.
Rather than dealing with President George W. Bush and his hawkish officials, they seem to hope victory for Mr Kerry would lead to a softening in US policy towards their nuclear weapons programme.
But both Mr Kerry and Mr Bush are committed to North Korean disarmament.
Mr Kerry, however, would renew bilateral negotiations.
Mr Bush has sought to manage the conversation with North Korea through multilateral talks.
Mr Kerry has also been more forthright about setting out the economic rewards for North Korea if it disarms.
The Bush administration appears in no hurry to tackle the North Korea issue before the election, aware that a US compromise with Pyongyang would represent an embarrassing climbdown, while confrontation would risk a bloody - and electorally disastrous - war.
The North Korean media is a constituency Mr Kerry could do without.
A signal of support from the Dear Leader will delight those eager to paint him as soft on national security.
