This new attack is pretty surprising
the first thing that came to my mind
"An army defector trying to stur trouble while the power is shifting from Kim Jong Il to his son"

who knows, I watched a really good documentary before on North Korea which showcased how they were abandoned by communist Russia and under threat to be attacked by the south. The film gave the viewpoint that NK has felt alone and isolated and that is why it tries to show it is powerful to prevent invasion

thoughts?

It's got a lot of people on pins and needles, that's for sure. The Norks are like petulent children, trying to see how far they can stretch the rules without inciting a geopolitical bitch slapping. I think they're getting awfully close though.

Then there's the part of me that believes that this "nuclear facility" that they supposedly have built in the last year. I know we have next to zero visibility into that messed up country but they are technologically waaaay behind most countries and I would think a facility like that, assuming it is even properly operational, would take much longer to construct (properly). Further, do they have the right resources and capabilities to use the technology? Or could it all just be more North Korean smoke and mirrors in order to be defiant to try to extort more global largesse. Then again, maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.

I see what you mean because I to have wondered if they really have the capability or whether it is just them showcasing strength. That is something like what Saddam Husein did after the Syrian war. In fear that Iran thought the Iraqi's were weak from the war Saddam wanted to showcase strength and military greatness to prevent the Iranians from making an advancement.

I also wonder what smoke and mirrors are thrown infront of us to believe North Korea is as radical as the media suggests.

I have heard statements made by North Koreans that pretty much said the north and south people are the same people, and will be re-united, and the north has the real leader of the korean people.

Something I am wondering though, could North Korea ever join the free world and rid themselves of this tyrant title? Becoming peaceful and playing by the rules, or would they be fully condemned by the US and rest of the west. Maybe the elite North Koreans fear they'd lose their strangle hold if they allowed a world view in their country, or maybe they truly believe their way of life/governing is correct

Tell us about the Syrian War.

So combine the issue of North Korea with the Wikileaks cables, and China is in a pretty shitty spot.... 2011 is going to be a hell of a year over there...

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quote:

Originally posted by Shakka It's got a lot of people on pins and needles, that's for sure. The Norks are like petulent children, trying to see how far they can stretch the rules without inciting a geopolitical bitch slapping. I think they're getting awfully close though. Then there's the part of me that believes that this "nuclear facility" that they supposedly have built in the last year. I know we have next to zero visibility into that messed up country but they are technologically waaaay behind most countries and I would think a facility like that, assuming it is even properly operational, would take much longer to construct (properly). Further, do they have the right resources and capabilities to use the technology? Or could it all just be more North Korean smoke and mirrors in order to be defiant to try to extort more global largesse. Then again, maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.

I think they should be taken serriously re: technological development. The physics behind enriching uraniume aren't all that 'new' and google provides some nice technical documents that could work as a starting point for anyone trained in engineering. I found a five page report in 2004 complete with equations when I was looking into the Brazilian enrichment process.

That being said, it isn't the nukes that worry the world, it is the hardened artilery positions in the mountains north of Seol. I read a conservative estimate of casualties in the event of a North / South conflict in Foreign Affairs a few years ago. This report from one of the top US generals estimated 500,000 dead in response to a pre-emptive US attack.

quote:

Originally posted by supermau5 So combine the issue of North Korea with the Wikileaks cables, and China is in a pretty shitty spot.... 2011 is going to be a hell of a year over there...

I expect it will be in the US too.

This spring will see the results of the State budgeting problems resurface and the possibility of bond defaults will be on the table again.

Why?

Both California and New York took record amounts of time ratifing thier budgets, as did many other states. Between the end of the past budget and the start of the first one, now I'm assuming here, costs probably sky rocketed. Without a budget there is no restraint on spending if I understand correctly.

To get back to Korea, it looks like it is volitile but how much worse than usual is difficult to tell. The South spent years opperating under thier "sunshine policy" of basically just being nice to NK. Unfortunately more conservative leadership has taken hold and now the policy has been moth balled.

A question that I think might be revealing wrt the conflict is: who stands to gain what?

Does KJI want a war in his legacy to match his fathers nose thumbing of the rest of the world?

Will KJI's son be more or less open to the world?

Do any western powers gain from a war in Korea? (arms dealers, fear mongers) ... this one is touchy because NK is a pretty concrete 'bad guy' and the US millitary needs someone less shadowy to fight if they are going to maintain claims on the purse strings.

Oh yeah, and this is timely. A two part animation of the Korean war:

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0hyALDW7Y

The war had a hell of a lot back and forth which must have been crap to try and live through.

their would be no north koera or south koera if china didn't send millions of troops over the border. north koera is china's fault.

wnat to know how to get into a NK university? you kill your family.

sk the USA shouldn't bothered helping you.

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