Korean War Redux

[Mr Saturn64 742]

The truth about North Korea.

 

Lolololololololololololpol.

That was awesome, but really, is the North trying to seem powerful or do they mean to cause world war III, destroy the World, ruin the international economy, destroy the environment, or do they just want to seem powerful? Really, it's a threat. I worry about it all the time.

No.  I have no association with those guys.  If I did, I would deny it, wouldn't I? 

 

I am more than a little miffed that they have taken a moniker so close to mine.  Besides, I am not anonymous as I have signed several posts with my real name, and I have also posted a link to my website in my profile.

 

Prof. John. C. Winterton, (retired).

So, Nonny, are YOU John C Winterton?

[Cobraroll 138]

 That was awesome, but really, is the North trying to seem powerful or do they mean to cause world war III, destroy the World, ruin the international economy, destroy the environment, or do they just want to seem powerful? Really, it's a threat. I worry about it all the time

 

 

Don't worry. The scaremongering is not meant for you.

 

It's spring in North Korea, after another long winter. The last harvest was this autumn. Go figure how much food is still left in storage from back then. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un, still a fresh leader, needs to solidify his own position among the North Korean politicians. He needs to show the country that he's a great leader like his father and grandfather, and give people something else to think about than the lack of food, electricity and other basic needs.

 

One great way to do this is blaming somebody else. For instance, the US and South Korea. North Korean media is regularly portraying those as evil aggressors standing at the borders, ready to roll in, massacre the North Korean population and destroy the "great nation". An evil enemy, standing on their doorstep thirsting for their blood. Every North Korean should be wary, ready to step in and fight for his freedom, because war might be upon them any day now. They shouldn't worry about a lack of food, you can always manage another day or two without eating, but the Americans would definitely kill you in a minute if they got the chance.

 

Luckily, the great army and the great leader is here to save the day. Kim wants the average North Korean to believe that the reason why America and their "puppet regime" hasn't attacked yet, is that they fear the North Korean army. I wouldn't be surprised if school textbooks in North Korea tell about several thwarted invasion attempts by now, where the Americans and South Koreans were repelled by the brave Northern army. However, North Korea can only survive if they stand together. If they riot against the government, and try to shake apart the order, then the border will fall and all hell break loose. The North Korean government need the people to be terrified of this scenario, preferrably so terrified that they'd rather have Kim (the glorious) than facing the Americans (the monsters). The North Korean acquisition of nuclear weapons is probably regarded as a great victory; a safeguard that will keep the Americans at bay for many years, while the Southrons shiver in their basements. It's probably a well-guarded secret that the Americans figured this out almost 70 years ago, and have been fine-tuning their arsenal and countermeasures ever since. In North Korean eyes, the Taepodong-II is probably regarded as the best weapon ever (even though the missile can neither fly, aim nor carry nukes at the moment - but that's a secret too).

 

 

In short, lots of barking from the North Korean government. They threaten America and South Korea, to appear as if they were a legitimate threat and actually scaring their politicians. Outside North Korea, few might take them seriously, but that's not their target group anyway. The target group consists of farmers and industrial workers whose only source of outside information is the KCNA.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It is notable, perhaps, that the rhetoric has died down somewhat.  Wonder who gave it?

[Bdub01 201]

^ true it seems to be blowing over now. April 10 th passed with nothing happening.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Meer puffing, I think.  Wait 'til next time and remember this.

[Bdub01 201]

Seems like NK still doesn't want to play nice...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22308808

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Sounds like the last straw for SK.  This was a win-win situation, so NK has managed to cut its nose off to spite its (lack of) face.

[JWL 52]

DPRK / NK is like the schoolyard bully of international politics. I think their young and inexperienced leader only solidifies this image. Let's all just hope these threats stay threats and no real punches are swung. The political climate in that part of the world is stressed enough, the last thing it needs is an escalating war.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Christian missionaries are such a pain at times.

 

Wonder what trumped up charges they will try him on?  Corrupting the youth of NK?  That charge killed Socrates.

[Bdub01 201]

Apperantly he was there to "topple the NK government" single handedly somehow... Just more rhetoric. Maybe they plan to kill Americans one at a time now till we are all gone?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Too many Americans.  Like trying to stop the Chinese infantry marching past a given point.  Many will be born and join the march before the head of column gets to its destination.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Christian missionaries are such a pain at times.

 

Wonder what trumped up charges they will try him on?  Corrupting the youth of NK?  That charge killed Socrates.

Meh, they will likely just try to use him as a bargaining chip. Give us what we want and we give you back your citizen unharmed. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Kaesong to be totally shut down.

 

Well, the NK isolationism has completed its last task.  Now what?

[Bdub01 201]

Why would NK do that? It seems like the plant was more beneficial to them than SK. All this does is hurt both sides that much more.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Yes, but the plant is on the NK side of the DMZ, so they are being stupid as usual.  Isolationism needs no justification.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

There are still NK workers building ...things... up in the islands between Japan and Russia those two countries are still arguing over.  So, they're not completely isolated.  Yet.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Give it time, give it time.  Eventually the world will be able to forget them if people will quit talking about them.  If nobody trades with them they should just starve and go away.

[Bdub01 201]

Give it time, give it time. Eventually the world will be able to forget them if people will quit talking about them. If nobody trades with them they should just starve and go away.

Isn't that dangerous though? I mean what better way to draw attention to yourself than start a war? A starving, isolated people may do something stupid just to be recognized. They know they can't beat SK and the US straight up, however if they continue work on nukes they may not be able to hit the US proper but they can raise some hell in their side of the world. If your going to go down, go down fighting and take as many with you as you can!

[LexusInfernus 908]

 

Give it time, give it time. Eventually the world will be able to forget them if people will quit talking about them. If nobody trades with them they should just starve and go away.

Isn't that dangerous though? I mean what better way to draw attention to yourself than start a war? A starving, isolated people may do something stupid just to be recognized. They know they can't beat SK and the US straight up, however if they continue work on nukes they may not be able to hit the US proper but they can raise some hell in their side of the world. If your going to go down, go down fighting and take as many with you as you can!

 

Its not like we ignore them. They isolate themselves and they know they don't need to actually start a war just to get some attention. If they want they can just sit down with whoever they like to deal with and talk. 

 

All this war threatening is also not meant to draw attention to themselves, it is used as bargaining leverage. Just like their nuclear program is. They can shut it down for a while, the UN then eases up some of the restrictions, they get aid from South Korea and China, then they begin their nuclear program again and the whole process starts over. Their only problem is that by now, no one takes them serious, nor does anyone rely on them to actually keep their word. So it becomes harder and harder for them to use these things as leverage, so they have to go further and further to convince the world that its totally for real this time. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

They haven't read the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".  When the wolf actually arrives, no one will listen.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The water was too hot.

 

Now that little glorious leader has stuck his toe in the water and found it too hot, it seems he is waiting for things to cool off.

[Bdub01 201]

I can see them now "Awe we were just joking around. Lighten up we all had a good laugh."

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I can see them now "Awe we were just joking around. Lighten up we all had a good laugh."

Yeah.  The whole thing was about as funny as a rubber crutch.

 

Its too bad there isn't some way to make him go stand in a corner.

[Bdub01 201]

At least go to his shame closet and think about what he did...

[Cobraroll 138]

Of course, they have to step down again now. Then we can hear them better the next time they raise their voices and rattle their sabres. North Korea needs "peaceful and friendly" periods in between the bursts of warmongering. If they were ranting at full strength all year 'round, we would get used to it pretty fast. Now, they can create contrasts, and pretend they are preparing for war again next time they want attention. Tension is only really tense when it isn't constant.

 

I think this "cooldown" was a surprise to absolutely nobody who know their stuff about NK. It's a cyclic pattern with outcries and silence. After one, the other always follows.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I am waiting for the full activity at Kaesong to be re-established (quietly, quietly).

[The Pennsylvania Turnpike 252]

Noth Korea is about as powerful as a child with a lollipop

[Mr Saturn64 742]

Noth Korea is about as powerful as a child with a lollipop

No they aren't. They truly have the power to deal hell to countries. They have nukes. They are a threat. How to deal with the threat is the question.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Having nukes does not make you a threat by itself. 

 

On top of that, North Korea just wants you to think its a threat. Because if you are a threat, people will want to deal with you peacefully first, so you get to begin negotiations. That way you can get concessions in the form of aid. At least, so goes the logic. Besides, North Korea knows full well that if it begins shooting it will get wiped from the map. The point is, North Korea may have all these nukes and all kinds of artillery aimed at Seoul, but they don't want to use them. So, they are not a threat. 

 

The only danger is that one day they take it to far, or someone else takes it to far and they accidentally begin shooting. 

[Bdub01 201]

But threatening the very countries you want to negotiate with is not very smart.