Korea on Verge of War

[sixers33 3]

SOUTH Korea has warned it will "sternly retaliate" any further provocations after North Korea fired dozens of shells at a South Korean island near the countries' disputed maritme border.

In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, two South Korean marines were killed and 15 others injured, four of them seriously, in the attack on Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea.

TV reports said dozens of houses were on fire and showed large plumes of black smoke billowing from the island.

http://www.news.com.au/world/bombardment-of-south-korean-island-sparks-artillery-clash-with-north/story-e6frfkyi-1225959632651

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

1. Belongs in the World Affairs thread above.
2. Please use live links when posting a news reference.  It is not hard to do.

The two Koreas have never signed a peace treaty since the clash over 50 years ago.  A state of war exists between them, and what you are seeing is a truce violation.  If it were up to me, the west would pave the DMZ with radioactive concrete about a mile wide.

[Ant1-b0dy 0]

IMO - NK is just testing the waters, seeing what they can get away with.

Both parties are going to probably work diligently to stay at a cease-fire. If war does come, NK will be fighting SK AND the USA (Since the USA helps enforce the South). Where China falls in i'm not sure but I doubt they want a piece of the pie. Both have nuclear arms and we all hope they won't get used. Two or three would destroy all of NK, the winds probably will carry the radioactive fallout into China... Talk about M.A.D.

China is NK's ONLY ally and they don't seem to happy about it all...

Time to start playing Fallout 3 & Fallout New Vegas and brush up on some survival skills!

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

I tend to agree with Ant1-b0dy.  These little pin-jabs are attempting to get a response from the international community.  I suspect that the generals in Pyongyang are going to be told in no uncertain terms by their only ally to cut it out or they are on their own.  China has too much to lose and nothing to gain by physcially supporting them.  Expect some jaw waving, but when push comes to shove, the Chinese are committed to the current world economy.

Probably wouldn't hurt to have the U.S. surface a boomer someplace well within range of Pyongyang.

[mightygoose 92]

i agree ANON, however the chinese pulling backing from NK isn't quite as simple, the chinese will happily rub the US up the wrong way if it can, by maintaining backing, also if china were no longer backing NK, NK would be in a corner which might make them a bit jumpier around the big red button, this is something no-one wants, and i think non nuclear war in the korea's is more favourable than even a small nuclear exchange. its a sticky situation, and it all depends on how ballsy the NK generals get.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

You guys just got me looking at CNN Live.

[Timmystwin 201]

Whooo fallout. But having it happen in real life? No thanks. I just hope peace remains

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Larks2242 251]

Lets hope the US dosen't get involved, its not something we need to fight over unless they threaten us.

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Well if we hide the Shiney Big Red Button from them we'll be fine.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Originally posted by: Larks2242

Lets hope the US doesn't get involved, its not something we need to fight over unless they threaten us.quote>

Yes let Hope, but US is a world power and it did help out in the Korean War and there is no debt the US will abandon a nation, specially if it's an ally.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

I read in my geography textbook that in 2000, the defense ministers met about uniting the countries, but probably after what happened I don't think that suceeded.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Goodbye North Korea. Ye shan't be missed.

[edman2012 33]

the u.s. obviously is involved no matter what, there's thousands of people there in case events like this happen because the u.s. simply wont allow n. korea to get away with bullying s. korea

[fukuda 351]

I'm not certain, but I think we may all live to see a reunited Korea in the near future. While most of these incidents are complicated posturing, they seem to be occurring more often. quote>

I hope they'll tone down their ultranationalism a lil' bit in the meantime...

[navyrules 1]

No matter what happens this will make some interesting additions to the peace talks over there... I'm sure South Korea will be very vocal about this in the international community, pointing there finger at North Korea saying look what they did.

Whether anything happens... unless North Korea decides to play some card and egg South Korea on even more I don't think this will be much of anything. North Korea gets a slap on the wrist by the UN and everyone goes on with their day.

If North Korea does egg South Korea on more. I'd expect a war. South Korea's angry and they sounded serious when they said they would attack if they were attacked again. I think the United States would be involved limitedly. Giving financial and material aid to South Korea, and patrolling the surrounding sea making sure no one gets to jumpy with the big red button. China would probably do the same but with North Korea.

I wouldn't expect much out of this... but that's my opinion

[Ocram's Razr 964]

If North Korea provokes any more, they will cease to exist. We have the ability to make it so and China will not back them.

[Jamonbread 222]

If I were the Chinese Id flip sides turn on NK and split it up 50-50. Chinese Korea and the rest unified to SK. Its a win for everybody except the crazy pyongung or whatever his name is.

[Duke87 1,070]

Here's what gets me: North Korea repeatedly launches attacks against Southern forces, and every time the South flaps their lips about stern warnings but ultimately just sits there and takes it like a bunch of...

Reality check: when foreign troops attack your country, it is an act of war. You're supposed to retaliate! Otherwise, you just let yourself get bullied. South Korea needs to man up and return fire.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Seconded, Duke87

[617squad 52]

The US is currently tied up in Afghanistan right now, too busy to fight a two theatre war unlike WWII. Hate to admit it but the US has gotten....flabby.

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Here's what gets me: North Korea repeatedly launches attacks against Southern forces, and every time the South flaps their lips about stern warnings but ultimately just sits there and takes it like a bunch of...

Reality check: when foreign troops attack your country, it is an act of war. You're supposed to retaliate! Otherwise, you just let yourself get bullied. South Korea needs to man up and return fire.quote>

Eh.. maybe. But what if you don't feel convinced you have the military capacity to follow up the retaliation with an overall victory?

[navyrules 1]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Here's what gets me: North Korea repeatedly launches attacks against Southern forces, and every time the South flaps their lips about stern warnings but ultimately just sits there and takes it like a bunch of...

Reality check: when foreign troops attack your country, it is an act of war. You're supposed to retaliate! Otherwise, you just let yourself get bullied. South Korea needs to man up and return fire.quote>

You need to understand that neither North Korea or South Korea want the fighting to start again... and I agree with beebs in that a country would need to know they could win before they go flying into a country with guns blazing.

Why do you think that the United States and the Soviet Union never got into a conventional war... because each side knew that if the other side was losing badly they might press that big red button... neither side would win then

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Reality check: when foreign troops attack your country, it is an act of war. You're supposed to retaliate! Otherwise, you just let yourself get bullied. South Korea needs to man up and return fire.quote>

Same advice goes to Liechtenstein? This isn't one nation against another, it's two countries of the same nation.

Also, SK is a highly modern country industrially and financially, and I think her government would think twice before jeopardising that position. There's a reason why the countries that usually go to war against each other are rather poor (no, I do not count the US against Afghanistan or Iraq - Washington was not 190 km from the most heavily fortified border in the world when the wars started).

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[GMT 389]

4 good reasons to blast these psychopathic commies to smithereens once and for all. my 2 cents.

just dont get it how the entire world seems to accept being held at gunpoint by a handfull of fools.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Originally posted by: GMT

4 good reasons to blast these psychopathic commies to smithereens once and for all. my 2 cents.

just dont get it how the entire world seems to accept being held at gunpoint by a handfull of fools.quote>

That's a little extreme, don't you think?  I see that the LA Times is also beating the war drums this morning.

All that's happening is that the Chinese are stirring the pot to see what floats to the surface.  The NK's are being their usual stupidly belligerent selves trying to get more world attention.  Like all little kids having a tantrum, they deserve a slap on the butt, but since they are so ramrod stuff, it is hard to find what little butt they are showing.

Remember that anything you read in the media is propaganda.  We do not know what's going on over there, and we are unlikely to find out.  The reactions in this thread are very interesting. 

NK is a postage stamp country on half of a small peninsula in a remote, and unfriendly part of the world with a bad climate, and winter is coming on.  They have to jump up and down to keep warm.  What they need is a nice altruistic mammy to put her arms around them and say "There, there.  Everything will be alright."  The only country I can think of that thinks of its soil as the motherland is Russia.  I don't think they feel motherly towards the NK's.  They have enough problems of their own.

A more balance perspective is found here.  India is closer to the action, and their reportage seems to be better.

[sneakeypete 16]

Originally posted by: Ilikeseattle

If North Korea provokes any more, they will cease to exist. We have the ability to make it so and China will not back them.quote>

So would Seoul, and probably a million soldiers from the south too. I don't think anyone really wants a war.

[+Guest Gnarologist]

Not a fan of the concept of "the big red button"...i'm guessing most people are just using it as a figure of speech but still the whole concept is a little absurd...I'd like to think all nations would go through a lot of planning, research, and decision making before they drop one, its not as simple as going "hey, we're losing, to the big red button!"

[morriswalters 16]

I'm glad to see people are so worked up.  But perhaps they should read the Cliffs Notes version of the history of the Korean War before they grab their guns and volunteer for action.