Offical Korean War Thread (1 Viewer)

[Fennis]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

 

[Sinn Fein]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

It's Salon, so of course they're going to pick the timeline carefully so they can spin a narrative about everything was peachy under Clinton and horrible under Bush. This also allows them to leave out the little fact that the Clinton administration very publicly considered a unilateral military strike on North Korea at one point.

Edit: That's a not intended as a criticism of Clinton's approach to North Korea, just a note that this country has been a pain in the ### for the last bunch of administrations, and nothing anybody has done has "worked."

 

[Fennis]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

It's Salon, so of course they're going to pick the timeline carefully so they can spin a narrative about everything was peachy under Clinton and horrible under Bush. This also allows them to leave out the little fact that the Clinton administration very publicly considered a unilateral military strike on North Korea at one point.

I agree with what your comments.

The article is also critical of the Obama Administration.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

It's Salon, so of course they're going to pick the timeline carefully so they can spin a narrative about everything was peachy under Clinton and horrible under Bush. This also allows them to leave out the little fact that the Clinton administration very publicly considered a unilateral military strike on North Korea at one point.

Pretty sure the article bashes Obama as well, calling the current Korean policy "an utter failure", and adds this review of Obama's stance:

[Hillary] Clinton and Obama also made it clear that they would not reopen any talks with the North until it turned away from nuclear weapons and opened itself to change. That policy turned out to be a strategic miscalculation: Kim did die last year, but the transition to his third son, Kim Jong-un, has gone smoothly. The regime is still there, as strong as ever.

One incident from 2010 underscores how little Obama was interested in negotiations. That fall, a delegation of former high-ranking U.S. officials visited Pyongyang and met with senior officials in Kim Jong-il’s government. As I reported shortly after their return, the delegation was told “that Pyongyang is prepared to ship out all of its nuclear fuel rods, the key ingredient for producing weapons-grade plutonium, to a third country in exchange for a U.S. commitment to pledge that it has ‘no hostile intent” toward the DPRK.” Joel Wit, a former State Department official who was part of the delegation, recalled last week that the offer “would have been a first step toward permanently disabling the [Yongban] facility, making sure the reactor would never again be a threat.” The offer, he added, “was dutifully reported to the Obama administration in briefings for the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the intelligence community.” But the Obama White House “didn’t even listen,” Wit said.

 

[T Bell]

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

No way China goes there. First Taiwan ain't no cupcake. They are armed to the teeth. Second we have pledged to protect Taiwan. China isn't ready to play that game and they know it.

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

That really is a nightmare scenario. From what I'm hearing, China wants no part of NK's shenanigans, and I have to believe that there's at least one person in a leadership position in NK that's at least secretly of the mindset that all of this is a terrible idea. As for China's military in the region, I was under the impression that they're still not on the greatest of terms with the Russians just to the north.

This entire region could very well be a powder keg.

Completely agree that China doesn't want to go there now. Just talking about "fun" scenarios and outlining the competing interests in the meantime.

China cannot be happy with NK at all right now. China's trying to bully smaller nations over disputed island territories, and it can't very well do that if the US is increasing its military presence over there. Plus there's a new leadership that just got installed in China, so they're transitioning politically, and their economy is based upon trade. The last thing they want is a war disrupting their economy.

 

[NCCommish]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

That is all just fantasy. Of those 4 missiles 3 failed on their only tests and the Nodong(he said no dong) is essentially a bigger Scud B. It shares all the issues with accuracy that the Scuds are rightfully famous for. Basically that graphic is useless.

 

[T Bell]

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

That really is a nightmare scenario. From what I'm hearing, China wants no part of NK's shenanigans, and I have to believe that there's at least one person in a leadership position in NK that's at least secretly of the mindset that all of this is a terrible idea. As for China's military in the region, I was under the impression that they're still not on the greatest of terms with the Russians just to the north.

This entire region could very well be a powder keg.

China vs Russia battle royal could be awesome from the sidelines

That's the longest fortified border in the world, and Russia is painfully aware that they're underpopulated for the land area they occupy. Nowadays they've only got about the same population as the US.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

It's Salon, so of course they're going to pick the timeline carefully so they can spin a narrative about everything was peachy under Clinton and horrible under Bush. This also allows them to leave out the little fact that the Clinton administration very publicly considered a unilateral military strike on North Korea at one point.

Pretty sure the article bashes Obama as well, calling the current Korean policy "an utter failure", and adds this review of Obama's stance:

>

[Hillary] Clinton and Obama also made it clear that they would not reopen any talks with the North until it turned away from nuclear weapons and opened itself to change. That policy turned out to be a strategic miscalculation: Kim did die last year, but the transition to his third son, Kim Jong-un, has gone smoothly. The regime is still there, as strong as ever.

One incident from 2010 underscores how little Obama was interested in negotiations. That fall, a delegation of former high-ranking U.S. officials visited Pyongyang and met with senior officials in Kim Jong-il’s government. As I reported shortly after their return, the delegation was told “that Pyongyang is prepared to ship out all of its nuclear fuel rods, the key ingredient for producing weapons-grade plutonium, to a third country in exchange for a U.S. commitment to pledge that it has ‘no hostile intent” toward the DPRK.” Joel Wit, a former State Department official who was part of the delegation, recalled last week that the offer “would have been a first step toward permanently disabling the [Yongban] facility, making sure the reactor would never again be a threat.” The offer, he added, “was dutifully reported to the Obama administration in briefings for the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the intelligence community.” But the Obama White House “didn’t even listen,” Wit said.

I don't agree with their criticism of Obama either. As the author notes, presidents have tried "negotiations" in the past. And here we are.

 

[NCCommish]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

It's Salon, so of course they're going to pick the timeline carefully so they can spin a narrative about everything was peachy under Clinton and horrible under Bush. This also allows them to leave out the little fact that the Clinton administration very publicly considered a unilateral military strike on North Korea at one point.

Pretty sure the article bashes Obama as well, calling the current Korean policy "an utter failure", and adds this review of Obama's stance:

>

[Hillary] Clinton and Obama also made it clear that they would not reopen any talks with the North until it turned away from nuclear weapons and opened itself to change. That policy turned out to be a strategic miscalculation: Kim did die last year, but the transition to his third son, Kim Jong-un, has gone smoothly. The regime is still there, as strong as ever.

One incident from 2010 underscores how little Obama was interested in negotiations. That fall, a delegation of former high-ranking U.S. officials visited Pyongyang and met with senior officials in Kim Jong-il’s government. As I reported shortly after their return, the delegation was told “that Pyongyang is prepared to ship out all of its nuclear fuel rods, the key ingredient for producing weapons-grade plutonium, to a third country in exchange for a U.S. commitment to pledge that it has ‘no hostile intent” toward the DPRK.” Joel Wit, a former State Department official who was part of the delegation, recalled last week that the offer “would have been a first step toward permanently disabling the [Yongban] facility, making sure the reactor would never again be a threat.” The offer, he added, “was dutifully reported to the Obama administration in briefings for the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the intelligence community.” But the Obama White House “didn’t even listen,” Wit

said.

I don't agree with their criticism of Obama either. As the author notes, presidents have tried "negotiations" in the past. And here we are.

And Yongban is not that big a deal. They don't need it anymore as they seem to have moved to uranium from plutonium. Giving us Yongban is a joke.

 

[shader]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

That is all just fantasy. Of those 4 missiles 3 failed on their only tests and the Nodong(he said no dong) is essentially a bigger Scud B. It shares all the issues with accuracy that the Scuds are rightfully famous for. Basically that graphic is useless.

Their best hope honestly is to lob missiles and artillery over the board and decimate South Korea. They could do some serious damage to SK, which would really hurt the economy. Japan seems like a reach, but I suppose they could get a lucky shot off. Anything more than that is loony-bin stuff.

 

[GAlmgren]

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

That really is a nightmare scenario. From what I'm hearing, China wants no part of NK's shenanigans, and I have to believe that there's at least one person in a leadership position in NK that's at least secretly of the mindset that all of this is a terrible idea. As for China's military in the region, I was under the impression that they're still not on the greatest of terms with the Russians just to the north.

This entire region could very well be a powder keg.

China vs Russia battle royal could be awesome from the sidelines

That's the longest fortified border in the world, and Russia is painfully aware that they're underpopulated for the land area they occupy. Nowadays they've only got about the same population as the US.

Like half the population.

 

[Slapdash]

Salons write up of how we got here: http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/north_korea_whats_really_happening/

They don't go back far enough IMO (only to Clinton), but its a good read.

Threats sound ominous, but at this point that’s all they seem to be: threats, designed to trigger a response in Washington that, in the mind of Kim and his military advisers, might lead to direct talks. (Remember his plaintive request to Dennis Rodman? “Obama should call me.”)

Yes, he probably should.

That article isn't very positive on Bush or Obama.

 

[Kal El]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

That is all just fantasy. Of those 4 missiles 3 failed on their only tests and the Nodong(he said no dong) is essentially a bigger Scud B. It shares all the issues with accuracy that the Scuds are rightfully famous for. Basically that graphic is useless.

Their best hope honestly is to lob missiles and artillery over the board and decimate South Korea. They could do some serious damage to SK, which would really hurt the economy. Japan seems like a reach, but I suppose they could get a lucky shot off. Anything more than that is loony-bin stuff.

They do that, and their own nation gets turned into a smoking crater. Attacking a nation with a nuclear weapon, even if its one that you've technically been at war with for over 60 years, will make you lose whatever friends you do have, and pretty much guarantees that there won't be enough remaining of your nation to fit into a sports arena, if the rubble was piled together.

 

[shader]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

That is all just fantasy. Of those 4 missiles 3 failed on their only tests and the Nodong(he said no dong) is essentially a bigger Scud B. It shares all the issues with accuracy that the Scuds are rightfully famous for. Basically that graphic is useless.

Their best hope honestly is to lob missiles and artillery over the board and decimate South Korea. They could do some serious damage to SK, which would really hurt the economy. Japan seems like a reach, but I suppose they could get a lucky shot off. Anything more than that is loony-bin stuff.

They do that, and their own nation gets turned into a smoking crater. Attacking a nation with a nuclear weapon, even if its one that you've technically been at war with for over 60 years, will make you lose whatever friends you do have, and pretty much guarantees that there won't be enough remaining of your nation to fit into a sports arena, if the rubble was piled together.

Well I didn't mean a missile with a nuclear weapon on it. From my knowledge (which admittedly is poor), NK doesn't have a reliable delivery system. Getting a nuke is one thing, shrinking it down to fit on a missile is another. But regular missiles fired into the heart of Seoul would be pretty catastrophic. My feelings are still that this kid is doing everything he can to get some relief. He may have a 80's style cache of weaponry, but he's got a million man army and when the economies of Europe and Japan are already on a razor's edge, he's timing this perfectly to get what he wants. No one can afford for a big war over there.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Well I didn't mean a missile with a nuclear weapon on it. From my knowledge (which admittedly is poor), NK doesn't have a reliable delivery system. Getting a nuke is one thing, shrinking it down to fit on a missile is another. But regular missiles fired into the heart of Seoul would be pretty catastrophic. My feelings are still that this kid is doing everything he can to get some relief. He may have a 80's style cache of weaponry, but he's got a million man army and when the economies of Europe and Japan are already on a razor's edge, he's timing this perfectly to get what he wants. No one can afford for a big war over there.

You know who else had a bunch out-dated weapons and a million man army? Saddam Hussein. How did his troops fare against three weeks of nonstop aerial attack back in 1991?

If the US military is good at anything, it's really good at decimating ground forces -- including equipment, supply facilities, artillery positions, etc. -- with air strikes and cruise missile attacks. You're absolutely right that nobody wants a war in Korea right now (or ever, really), but let's also keep in mind that North Korea is way out of it's league here.

 

[shader]

Well I didn't mean a missile with a nuclear weapon on it. From my knowledge (which admittedly is poor), NK doesn't have a reliable delivery system. Getting a nuke is one thing, shrinking it down to fit on a missile is another. But regular missiles fired into the heart of Seoul would be pretty catastrophic. My feelings are still that this kid is doing everything he can to get some relief. He may have a 80's style cache of weaponry, but he's got a million man army and when the economies of Europe and Japan are already on a razor's edge, he's timing this perfectly to get what he wants. No one can afford for a big war over there.

You know who else had a bunch out-dated weapons and a million man army? Saddam Hussein. How did his troops fare against three weeks of nonstop aerial attack back in 1991?

If the US military is good at anything, it's really good at decimating ground forces -- including equipment, supply facilities, artillery positions, etc. -- with air strikes and cruise missile attacks. You're absolutely right that nobody wants a war in Korea right now (or ever, really), but let's also keep in mind that North Korea is way out of it's league here.

Yeah it took three weeks, but lets be real. Many, many Iraqis died, the war cost the US an unbelievable amount of money, etc. Rousing up those kind of numbers to go to NK wouldn't be easy. Yes, the US would win. But it would cost a ton of money, and you have to wonder how China would feel about the US bringing massive troops right up near their border. My guess is they wouldn't.

 

[[icon]]

Well I didn't mean a missile with a nuclear weapon on it. From my knowledge (which admittedly is poor), NK doesn't have a reliable delivery system. Getting a nuke is one thing, shrinking it down to fit on a missile is another. But regular missiles fired into the heart of Seoul would be pretty catastrophic. My feelings are still that this kid is doing everything he can to get some relief. He may have a 80's style cache of weaponry, but he's got a million man army and when the economies of Europe and Japan are already on a razor's edge, he's timing this perfectly to get what he wants. No one can afford for a big war over there.

You know who else had a bunch out-dated weapons and a million man army? Saddam Hussein. How did his troops fare against three weeks of nonstop aerial attack back in 1991?

If the US military is good at anything, it's really good at decimating ground forces -- including equipment, supply facilities, artillery positions, etc. -- with air strikes and cruise missile attacks. You're absolutely right that nobody wants a war in Korea right now (or ever, really), but let's also keep in mind that North Korea is way out of it's league here.

Exactly. What little airforce they have would be plucked out of the sky like clockwork (while cruise missles did some early work against that artillery from sea). Once we owned the sky we would rapidly lay waste to what artillery they had left. There is no reason to go in on the ground (that would primarily be a SK operation w/ some US support) if it came down to that... but we're talking about matchbox vs Maserati when comparing the two militaries.

 

[[icon]]

Well I didn't mean a missile with a nuclear weapon on it. From my knowledge (which admittedly is poor), NK doesn't have a reliable delivery system. Getting a nuke is one thing, shrinking it down to fit on a missile is another. But regular missiles fired into the heart of Seoul would be pretty catastrophic. My feelings are still that this kid is doing everything he can to get some relief. He may have a 80's style cache of weaponry, but he's got a million man army and when the economies of Europe and Japan are already on a razor's edge, he's timing this perfectly to get what he wants. No one can afford for a big war over there.

You know who else had a bunch out-dated weapons and a million man army? Saddam Hussein. How did his troops fare against three weeks of nonstop aerial attack back in 1991?

If the US military is good at anything, it's really good at decimating ground forces -- including equipment, supply facilities, artillery positions, etc. -- with air strikes and cruise missile attacks. You're absolutely right that nobody wants a war in Korea right now (or ever, really), but let's also keep in mind that North Korea is way out of it's league here.

Yeah it took three weeks, but lets be real. Many, many Iraqis died, the war cost the US an unbelievable amount of money, etc. Rousing up those kind of numbers to go to NK wouldn't be easy. Yes, the US would win. But it would cost a ton of money, and you have to wonder how China would feel about the US bringing massive troops right up near their border. My guess is they wouldn't.

Any ground invasion into NK would most likely be primarily a SK force supported by US troops. Iraq was primarily a US force supported by allied troops. Huge difference.

 

[T Bell]

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

That really is a nightmare scenario. From what I'm hearing, China wants no part of NK's shenanigans, and I have to believe that there's at least one person in a leadership position in NK that's at least secretly of the mindset that all of this is a terrible idea. As for China's military in the region, I was under the impression that they're still not on the greatest of terms with the Russians just to the north.

This entire region could very well be a powder keg.

China vs Russia battle royal could be awesome from the sidelines

That's the longest fortified border in the world, and Russia is painfully aware that they're underpopulated for the land area they occupy. Nowadays they've only got about the same population as the US.

Like half the population.

Dang, you're right. That's what I get for going off of recollection.

 

[Copeman]

The "you posted in this thread" thingy resembles the N Korean flag. Fitting for this topic I guess. Still kinda freaks me out for this thread.

 

[culdeus]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

 

[Ilov80s]

There has been a lot of mention of the U.S. shooting down Korea missiles. Here's some info on THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense).

Wikipedia Entry

Bloated THAAD...about as effective North Korean missiles

THAAD headed to Guam "in the coming weeks"

 

[Billy Bats]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

Can't remember what I was watching, it was an early news show before work. They said the NK people are actually shrinking in size due to malnurishment. Because of this the NK population is already 2 inches shorter than the SK people.

 

[T Bell]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

SK would go into a recession because the folks in the north have several generations of people who are not educated about social mobility or entrepreneurial ventures, and are dependent upon the government. The SK government/people would have to spend massive amounts of money just on food and medicine, to speak nothing of infrastructure, etc.

What's funny is West Germany was worried about East Germany integrating, and this is way beyond that.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

You could get like 5 hookers for a box of Uncle Ben's

 

[T Bell]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

Can't remember what I was watching, it was an early news show before work. They said the NK people are actually shrinking in size due to malnurishment. Because of this the NK population is already 2 inches shorter than the SK people.

Great, so if they reintegrate they won't even be able to get laid.

 

[Ilov80s]

Interesting article that attempts to counter some of the myths on North Korea

I have never been, but I have a hard time believing it is all as being described here. Sure, the poor rural areas are likely full of people that have never used the internet or don't know basic scientific principles. However, we can say that about most poor rural people in developing nations. In the city, they have iPhones and stuff and computers. It isn't 1400 over there.

 

[T Bell]

Interesting article that attempts to counter some of the myths on North Korea

I have never been, but I have a hard time believing it is all as being described here. Sure, the poor rural areas are likely full of people that have never used the internet or don't know basic scientific principles. However, we can say that about most poor rural people in developing nations. In the city, they have iPhones and stuff and computers. It isn't 1400 over there.

Forget about what the Atlantic says about it. Just go watch the secretly filmed YouTube videos and documentaries. They say it all.

 

[culdeus]

Interesting article that attempts to counter some of the myths on North Korea

I have never been, but I have a hard time believing it is all as being described here. Sure, the poor rural areas are likely full of people that have never used the internet or don't know basic scientific principles. However, we can say that about most poor rural people in developing nations. In the city, they have iPhones and stuff and computers. It isn't 1400 over there.

This article is a joke. Have you seen the Vice Guide to NK? It may be blocked at your work as they cover nsfw stuff too. They are totally and completely isolated. Just because they sell some ####ty trinkets to africa doesn't make them any less backwards.

I also Lol-ed at the fact that they send HUNDREDS OF students a year to study abroad? and that's progress? You know how many China sent? 200,000. They sent more per day than NK does in a year (yeah, yeah China is huge, but still.)

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Pie Face is the world's largest drug dealer.

http://www.thefix.com/content/north-korean-diplomats-selling-drugs91441

 

[Fennis]

sounds like others may have misconceptions about North Koreans too... (Apparently they do know about gangnam style)

bing.com

Do North Koreans

• do north koreans eat babies
• do north koreans have internet
• do north koreans hate americans
• do north koreans chinese new year 2013
• do north koreans listen to kpop
• do north koreans know about kpop yahoo
• do north koreans know about gangnam style

 

[Fennis]

South Koreans:

• do south koreans like americans
• do south koreans eat dog
• do south koreans eat monkey brains
• do south koreans speak english
• do south koreans hate americans
• do south koreans celebrate christmas
• do south koreans hate colored people
• do south koreans have access to the internet

 

[Politician Spock]

let's see china mobilize toward the NK border preparing for a land grab THAT would make this interesting.

The nightmare scenario involving a Chinese power play would be waiting for the confusion/chaos caused by a NK first strike, followed by China making a move for Taiwan. That would get disastrous in a hurry.

That really is a nightmare scenario. From what I'm hearing, China wants no part of NK's shenanigans, and I have to believe that there's at least one person in a leadership position in NK that's at least secretly of the mindset that all of this is a terrible idea. As for China's military in the region, I was under the impression that they're still not on the greatest of terms with the Russians just to the north.

This entire region could very well be a powder keg.

China vs Russia battle royal could be awesome from the sidelines

A China vs Russia battle is about as likely as a Saudi Arabia vs United State battle.

China and Russia are pretty much sick of the PetroDollar and are well on their way to undermining it.

In fact, the conspiracy theorist side of me says the US has been with NK for a while now hoping NK would respond in such a way that the American people would support another Iraq style invasion. Everytime the PetroDollar is threatened, military action always sees to follow. I admit it's pretty stuff, but it's amazing how "coincidental" these brinks of war seem to coincide to PetroDollar threats.

 

[Kal El]

Nothing new to report, I guess. Still, I have to wonder if North Korea really wants to start a war. Yes, I've heard that Un's grip on power isn't as absolute as his dad's was, but I would hope he's not foolish enough to risk his country's destruction just for a better grip on power.

 

[Sinn Fein]

much ado about nothing

 

[tri-man 47]

PlasmaDogPlasma, on 05 Apr 2013 - 16:44, said:

culdeus, on 05 Apr 2013 - 16:39, said:Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world. Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

You could get like 5 hookers for a box of Uncle Ben's

Well, Ryan could.therthread:

 

[Fennis]

I saw Fidel Castro is doing his part to avert a nuclear war.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Interesting article that attempts to counter some of the myths on North Korea

I have never been, but I have a hard time believing it is all as being described here. Sure, the poor rural areas are likely full of people that have never used the internet or don't know basic scientific principles. However, we can say that about most poor rural people in developing nations. In the city, they have iPhones and stuff and computers. It isn't 1400 over there.

Forget about what the Atlantic says about it. Just go watch the secretly filmed YouTube videos and documentaries. They say it all.

We should make HJS official ambassador.

 

[SacramentoBob]

good graphic of NK missile ranges

Really hoping for the sneak attack on Iran here.

 

[johnnycakes]

I have a Hawaii vacation planned for the last two weeks of May. I'm going to be pissed of he screws that up for me.

 

[Otis]

Attended a Q&A with a former Secretary of State/chief if staff etc, and his view was that he's not so sure this is just bluster this time. He said he is concerned. The regime is basically just a big dysfunctional family, which makes the whole thing that much more unpredictable.

 

[T Bell]

Can you even imagine the hypothetical situation if SK liberated all the NK people. It would be a huge culture shock. Some of the people that escaped did not know the world was round. It would be such a crazy anthropological experiment. You could test all sorts of theories, nutritional, epidemiological, and social on basically the last lost tribe of the world.

Huge opportunity to exploit the labor force at pre 2000 rates. China may want to shift their dirty production down there. Possibilities are endless.

SK would go into a recession because the folks in the north have several generations of people who are not educated about social mobility or entrepreneurial ventures, and are dependent upon the government. The SK government/people would have to spend massive amounts of money just on food and medicine, to speak nothing of infrastructure, etc.

What's funny is West Germany was worried about East Germany integrating, and this is way beyond that.

The last three items are heart-breaking and alarming. This is going to require generations to fix.

http://news.yahoo.com/5-strange-cultural-facts-north-korea-145832048.html

 

[cstu]

After the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the 38th parallel was established as the boundary by Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel of the U.S. State Department - War - Navy Coordinating Committee in Washington, D.C. during the night of the 10th of August 1945, four days before the liberation of Korea.

Nice job, guys.

 

[Ursa M]

After the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the 38th parallel was established as the boundary by Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel of the U.S. State Department - War - Navy Coordinating Committee in Washington, D.C. during the night of the 10th of August 1945, four days before the liberation of Korea.

Nice job, guys.

What were they supposed to do, thumb their noses at Stalin?

 

[Sinn Fein]

Meh, I think this has more to do with US defense contractors than anything.

Needs to be a reason to keep the war machinery in high gear.

North Korea has no intention to move beyond its borders.

 

[T Bell]

How's this for a wacky scenario:

China is growing more and more agitated with NK and it's young leader for how recklessly it's acting. China is worried about the US and SK getting drawn into/starting a war and (probably) conquering NK and unifying the peninsula as a representative democracy aligned with the US rather than with China.

As a result, rather than wait for circumstances to unfold, China simply invades NK, all while making clear that it will not encroach upon the DMZ or attack SK or the US forces there. China installs a new, pro-China government which then proceeds to open trade (dependent upon China, of course) and largely demilitarize.

 

[Billy Bats]

How's this for a wacky scenario: China is growing more and more agitated with NK and it's young leader for how recklessly it's acting. China is worried about the US and SK getting drawn into/starting a war and (probably) conquering NK and unifying the peninsula as a representative democracy aligned with the US rather than with China. As a result, rather than wait for circumstances to unfold, China simply invades NK, all while making clear that it will not encroach upon the DMZ or attack SK or the US forces there. China installs a new, pro-China government which then proceeds to open trade (dependent upon China, of course) and largely demilitarize.

Sounds like the bonus plan.

 

[Fennis]

How's this for a wacky scenario:

China is growing more and more agitated with NK and it's young leader for how recklessly it's acting. China is worried about the US and SK getting drawn into/starting a war and (probably) conquering NK and unifying the peninsula as a representative democracy aligned with the US rather than with China.

As a result, rather than wait for circumstances to unfold, China simply invades NK, all while making clear that it will not encroach upon the DMZ or attack SK or the US forces there. China installs a new, pro-China government which then proceeds to open trade (dependent upon China, of course) and largely demilitarize.

And that would give the US its opening to finally invade and occupy Mexico.

 

[T Bell]

How's this for a wacky scenario:

China is growing more and more agitated with NK and it's young leader for how recklessly it's acting. China is worried about the US and SK getting drawn into/starting a war and (probably) conquering NK and unifying the peninsula as a representative democracy aligned with the US rather than with China.

As a result, rather than wait for circumstances to unfold, China simply invades NK, all while making clear that it will not encroach upon the DMZ or attack SK or the US forces there. China installs a new, pro-China government which then proceeds to open trade (dependent upon China, of course) and largely demilitarize.

And that would give the US its opening to finally invade and occupy Mexico.

I live in occupied Mexico. It's done, amigo.