so what do we all think about whats going on between the Korea's at the moment? i dont know enough on it all to comment though did some research into it all earlier and they are a fascinating couple of country's
Korea
- Thread starter -dave-
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There doing similar things back when Kim Jong-il took over after his dad died back 94. Granted it is nothing to take lightly but do treat them like kid throwing a temper tantrum at the store.
Smack them in the butt and say knock it off
Smack them in the butt and say knock it off
A little more PC than I would have put it but you are right. China is running out of reasons why to be NK's bodyguard when they do stupid stuff like that.
Notice China did not have anything to say about the carrier we moved into the Yellow sea for exercising.
I know it is not the answer, but B52's are still capable of making parking lots. line em up 6 wide and open the doors.
Oh, and we can't forget the MOAB. And I am not talking about rock crawling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQdeAeOEg4
I am just curious what China's position will be if a war breaks out. They may see themselves as North Korea's ally, but they are desperately trying to modernize, something that would be immediately halted should they oppose the West.
I just saw on the BBC this morning that China wants to hold emergency talks in early december involving NK, SK, US, Japan, China and Russia. It seems like maybe China is growing weary of having to clean up (politically) NK's crap.
Personally, I don't know what to do other than outright invasion. I don't like war at all, but the aggression will continue from North Korea until a regime change. First it's the shelling, then they'll maybe bomb a passenger jet again. The North Korean's are completely insane, driven that way by terrible living conditions and constant conditioning. In order for things to change, these two things need to change. The only way I see that changing is if there is a foreign presence in North Korea.
Personally, I don't know what to do other than outright invasion. I don't like war at all, but the aggression will continue from North Korea until a regime change. First it's the shelling, then they'll maybe bomb a passenger jet again. The North Korean's are completely insane, driven that way by terrible living conditions and constant conditioning. In order for things to change, these two things need to change. The only way I see that changing is if there is a foreign presence in North Korea.
Diplomacy is the answer. Our show of force will let the two Koreas, China, Russia, Japan and whoever else is watching know that we are interested and involved. However with our military stretched out across Iraq, Afghanistan and other points, we do not have the resources to credibly assert that we're going to straighten things out by force. South Korea doesn't want Seoul in ruins, China doesn't want it's border territories choked with starving refugees, Japan doesn't want missiles lobbed into Hokkaido or Honshu. Arms will be twisted, nobody will get exactly what they want, everybody will come away with something. The lid on the pot will be readjusted, but things will keep simmering. Hopefully some aspiring diplomat will think about some way to get South Korea's nukes away from them. Such is life.
Jimmy Carter?
I really thought those crazy kids were going to make it. Here's hoping!
Am I mistaken, or did you mean NORTH Korea?
The best way to topple the regime without out and out war would be to somehow starve money away from the military. Any diplomats that can orchestrate that would be genius.
One of my partners at work is Korean-he usually takes these tantrums with a shrug but is more anxious this time. The key problem is that Seol is within artillery range of the North. They don't need to launch a rocket or a plane-just open up with artillery and cause the death of thousands before even a devastating response can be delivered. The shelling of that island was a direct reminder of these facts.
China doesn't want a pro-western country on it's border and does not want to see Korea united under Seoul. North Korea is making sure that the ascendancy of Kim Jong-un happens with him taking over as a strong leader, which is behind the show of force. My favorite news source for South Korea: http://english.chosun.com/
Another war? I hope not. We need to finish the other ones first.
You have a good point.
Iraq is still not stable so we have to keep in mind we could get called back into Iraq because of some trouble. I just would not want to see the US get too spread out with military engagements.
I think N. Korea is an international joke even with their "nuke" or nukes.
They are a failed state and this is a kind of international blackmail that they engage in from time to time. It would not surprise me if there was a military coup in N. Korea. The military is definitely up to something in N. Korea.
We'll see.
but if war does break out,and IF red china backs up the north militarily ,it will be a wonderful reason to halt imports from china and re-open american factories...not everyone in the u.s. can flip burgers or be a nuclear physicist,there needs to be middle class sustainable jobs....
I guess I'll get in on this before the thread gets locked 
Everyone in the region favors the status quo. China and South Korea both do not want the North to fall as they will have to suffer the burden of thousands or hundreds of thousands of refugees passing through their borders. Neither of these countries would like to help rebuild the DPRK's 1950s infrastructure- I'm sure the US wouldn't like it either!
The leadership of the DPRK of course wants to stay in power, and they must be thrilled that they can continue the Kim legacy without having a strong leader; one that they can manipulate at will. In the end, this is all a bluster. North Korea can't do much of anything to the South unless they use nuclear or chemical weapons which the leaders of course know will bring about total destruction to their government.
Everyone in the region favors the status quo. China and South Korea both do not want the North to fall as they will have to suffer the burden of thousands or hundreds of thousands of refugees passing through their borders. Neither of these countries would like to help rebuild the DPRK's 1950s infrastructure- I'm sure the US wouldn't like it either!
The leadership of the DPRK of course wants to stay in power, and they must be thrilled that they can continue the Kim legacy without having a strong leader; one that they can manipulate at will. In the end, this is all a bluster. North Korea can't do much of anything to the South unless they use nuclear or chemical weapons which the leaders of course know will bring about total destruction to their government.
I guess I'll get in on this before the thread gets locked
Everyone in the region favors the status quo. China and South Korea both do not want the North to fall as they will have to suffer the burden of thousands or hundreds of thousands of refugees passing through their borders. Neither of these countries would like to help rebuild the DPRK's 1950s infrastructure- I'm sure the US wouldn't like it either!
The leadership of the DPRK of course wants to stay in power, and they must be thrilled that they can continue the Kim legacy without having a strong leader; one that they can manipulate at will. In the end, this is all a bluster. North Korea can't do much of anything to the South unless they use nuclear or chemical weapons which the leaders of course know will bring about total destruction to their government.
Very true-some would argue that lack of resolution in all regions is the goal of US foreign policy. The goal is to prevent any country from achieving regional hegemony and hence preclude the develpment regional threats to the US. It is better for us to have them after each other than united under one power after us. This assumes this limits all conflict to regional ones. Hence, the lack of resolution of most every conflict since WW2. Just an interesting idea.
I guess I'll get in on this before the thread gets locked
Everyone in the region favors the status quo. China and South Korea both do not want the North to fall as they will have to suffer the burden of thousands or hundreds of thousands of refugees passing through their borders. Neither of these countries would like to help rebuild the DPRK's 1950s infrastructure- I'm sure the US wouldn't like it either!
This isn't something I would have thought of, and it's a very good point. If we were to, say, invade the North and just leave it after our military victory (which is pretty much assured), there would be a huge influx of dazed and confused Koreans moving, more than likely (language reasons) to the south. So I can see how keeping the status quo is what's wanted.
However, I will say that if we could somehow depose the North and contract jobs there, done by (for example) Americans, that would have many benefits. First, the updating of their 1950's infrastructure would bring contractors, in this example American contractors, to the country, creating plenty of jobs. If there's a ratio, say 5 North Koreans to 1 american, that would also employ North Koreans in a significant capacity. Americans would spend money in NK, the North Koreans would spend earned money in NK...that would put some capital in the system. Once the work was over the Americans employed would return home with substantial money--chances are food and lodging in NK is much cheaper.
I know this is ideal, and can't really happen as such, but employing contractors to update the country could mean a LOT of work and a substantial gain from all that work: an entirely rebuilt, modern country.
The South Koreans are quite industrious. I am sure they have us way out-gunned in terms of planning for the integration of the North, and for stabilizing that society.
