North Korea and Social Skills

[Rafael Bernardes Garcia]

The country of North Korea has opened up for conversations with the United States. A proposal was made by North Korea to stop nuclear tests if the US would remove their troops from South Korea. The proposal was rejected by the United States, as they remain open for conversations with North Korea. The North Korean Deputy Ambassador informed that NK is ready to explain their intentions behind the proposal to the US, and suggested that many possibilities would emerge upon the practice of it.

The North Korean government has demonstrated over the years to be a very umbrageous government. In 2013, the UN condemned the North Korean human rights record, and they responded by launching another nuclear test, the last one as of today. The way the country has developped relationships with other countries does not give the US the confidence needed to accept the proposal made by NK. Their social skills (government diplomacy) are definitely not their strengths, and threats have been made several times over the years. I don't know how this scenario could change for them, as most of the countries today do not turst the North Korean government and their intentions. It could be that being open to polite conversationa with Big Sam will allow them to come out of hiding and make friends outside their cave. Hopefully we will remain smart and cautious as we proceed with these conversations. The last thing we want is to become allies of the hater of the world and become hated by our fellows. 

[Michelle Pickard]

Rafael,

This is a very unique topic. Thanks for sharing it! I think people forget sometimes how important communication is. Within a relationship of two people, roommates, a group of friends, family, community, all the way to how each nation interacts with one another. Communication is key in any situation. Granted, it's probably harder with an entire nation to govern, but it doesn't take way from the need of communication. If anything, it makes it more crucial. We have such a wonderful opportunity to be allies with other countries in order to better the entire world. It makes it difficult when the world includes billions of people, but good communication is not impossible!

[Kristi Krock]

Rafael,

Thanks for bringing this circumstance to our attention. It seems to me that each country is at least making efforts to communicate and to reconcile. Although I don't think that America is exactly seeking to be allies with North Korea, I think that there is at least a desire for there not to be hostility between the two. I understand how an abundance of past threats has worked to now undermine Americas confidence in North Korea. I've never considered the concept that a country has social skills, which can be reflected on as good or bad. Although I am fairly ignorant of world politics, I am not surprised to see that North Korea is a country not considered to have the best social skills. However, I'm sure it is a much more difficult process than I give it credit. Most people I know, myself included, need to work on their own social skills a bit- how much more difficult it must be for a country.