Q: Is the impression we get via these Web videos similar to what they broadcast on television, and what you see in other forms, or are we in the news business guilty of hyping the most inflammatory material do you think?
A: That’s a good question. We need to keep in mind that North and South Korea are not so much trading outright threats as trading blustering vows of how they would retaliate if attacked. The North says, “If the U.S. or South Korea dare infringe on our territory we will reduce their territory to ashes,” and Seoul responds by saying it will retaliate by bombing Kim Il-sung statues. And so it goes. I think the international press is distorting the reality somewhat by simply publishing the second half of all these conditional sentences. And I have to say from watching North Korea’s evening news broadcasts for the past week or so, the North Korean media are not quite as wrapped up in this war mood as one might think. The announcers spend the first 10 minutes or so reporting on peaceful matters before they start ranting about the enemy.
The regime is exploiting the tension to motivate the masses to work harder on various big first-economy projects, especially the land-reclamation drive now under way on the east coast. Workers are shown with clenched fists, spluttering at the U.S. and South Korea, and vowing to work extra hard as a way of venting their rage.
It is all very similar to last year’s sustained vilification of South Korea’s then-president, Lee Myung-bak, when you had miners saying that they imagined Lee’s face on the rocks they were breaking, and so on. The regime can no longer fire up people with any coherent or credible vision of a socialist future, so it tries to cast the entire work force — much as other countries do in times of actual war — as an adjunct to the military. Work places are “battlegrounds,” and all labor strengthens the country for the final victory of unification, etc.
I'm telling you guys, they're doing this for their own "benefit" (I use that word very loosely) internally, and to make themselves feel as though they actually have some sort of an impact on the world stage. That's it.
I'm telling you guys, they're doing this for their own "benefit" (I use that word very loosely) internally, and to make themselves feel as though they actually have some sort of an impact on the world stage. That's it.
No one is doubting that Jake. It's more of a worry over an accidental incident.
idoru
Oh, so we're all getting our panties in a wad over nothing, then. :p
enydo
Well, maybe nothing, but maybe not. They probably wont actually DO anything, but there is a small chance some sort of communications misstep or confusion could escalate into an actual conflict.
Lagrangian
They don't have the technology to nuke the U.S. But they could target their neighbors. China's a ing bitch, she hasn't said anything about N. Korea's threats because they're both sleeping together. Rest assure, one hit to South Korea, Japan, or other ally of the U.S within the radii of interest will trigger a bellicose response from America.
Lews
quote:
Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
No one is doubting that Jake. It's more of a worry over an accidental incident.
This.
That's why the US is being careful with their rhetoric now, since the Navy/someone ed up the other day. Don't want to accidentally start something due to miscommunication.
Joss Weatherby
quote:
Originally posted by idoru
Oh, so we're all getting our panties in a wad over nothing, then. :p
No, because the rhetoric is very high and that increases tensions. You can't just ignore a country that is threatening nuclear war, especially in such an outright manner. There really is no precedent on how to handle a situation like this, where the threats are overt and the capability is real.
So its not a "over nothing" situation. There is firm justification to raise the level of defenses and there is a real possibility that some random incident from an otherwise totally benign actor could spark a real conflict.
You don't want to trifle with nations that are armed to the teeth and ready to fight.
You have to remember that on the border there is no "release authority" that is actually very strong for conventional weapons systems. All you need is an itchy trigger finger or random battery commander (or even gun crew) to get pissed or go nuts and they can start a massive war. Its literally in the hands of tens of thousands of individuals who may or may not be entirely rational.
idoru
I know, I know. I was just kidding around, damn. :p
