Blog: Talking Politics with Samie Week 1

When I think of Dennis Rodman, I think of few things- the first being basketball. Rodman is arguably the best rebounder to ever play in the NBA. In addition, I also think of all of the more eclectic things Rodman has done, like wearing a wedding dress in public. So when I saw Rodman was in the news again this past week, I was very surprised by the headline. Rodman is the first American to visit North Korean leader, Kim Jung Un (fortunately, he happens to be a big basketball fan). Rodman was sent by HBO and Vice Media.

Reactions to Rodman’s unsanctioned  trip were mixed. Some found it a step in the right direction, calling Rodman’s visit a form on ‘basketball diplomacy,’ referencing the ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ used by Nixon to warm relations with China. However, some found it inappropriate seeing as North Korea is ruled by a dictator who hates America . The White House denounced the trip and new Secretary of State, John Kerry, had little to say regarding Rodman’s diplomacy skills.

As a country, we tend to not take North Korea very seriously. Every so often we’ll hear North Korea is having a rocket launch test, and we just laugh it off. However, we tend to forget that North Korea is one of the few countries that does  in fact have nuclear capabilities. North Korea is a loose cannon that could strike at anytime.

Currently there is little risk to an attack on American soil. However, following Rodman’s visit North Korea has scrapped the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean conflict. This is causing a major stir in Asia, because this could mean that North Korea is getting ready to attack South Korea.

Now you may ask, why should we care about what’s going on in North and South Korea? The impacts would never reach the United States.

Well we should care, because if North Korea begins attacking South Korea there could be serious consequences for us. South Korea would have to fight back and since they’re our ally, the United States would most likely join in. But North Korea has powerful allies too, the most powerful being China.  Although the likelihood that China would go to war against the US is not great due to our economic involvement with them, there is still a possibility if we take direct action against North Korea.

So, as the United States, what should our next steps be regarding North Korea?

Starting March 1, the US and South Korea began having military drills that are scheduled to last about two months to prepare for a possible attack from North Korea, which, ironically, North Korea took as an open declaration of war. National security adviser Tom Donilon released a statement that if North Korea does attack, the US will do everything possible to protect our allies around North Korea.

But is this the correct course of action to be taken? Should the US embroil itself in another war, a war that could turn nuclear?

Following his now infamous trip, Dennis Rodman sat down for an interview with ABC anchor, George Stephanopoulos. In the interview, Rodman offered President Obama a little piece of advice regarding North Korean relations: pick up the phone and call Kim Jong Un.
Rodman went on to talk about how the last thing Kim Jong Un wants is to go to war.

So what should the United States do?

In my humble opinion, the United States should take Rodman’s advice. Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry, need to start using diplomacy as opposed to power projection when it comes to conflicts. North Korea poses huge threats to the United States and if there were to be another Korean War, the consequences would be great.

Maybe North Korea is just bluffing, but we can’t take that risk.