Korea

[Oberon]

Ok, is anyone else thinking that this is a little bit more than business as usual? :hmmm:

I doubt it's prelude to any war, but it could shed some light into perhaps a new military governing in the DPRK since Kim is either already dead, dying or basically out of the way.

My money is on this guy:

http://hosted.ap.org/photos/3/3b17eb55-7d42-4125-9d9a-413c8d475a63-big.jpg

[Enigma]

...Did you mean to post a link? I'm not sure to what you refer...

I did hear the other day that due to the upcoming South Korea/US war games, the North Koreans told the south that they could "no longer guarantee the safety" of South Korean Airlines operating in North Korean airspace. Thus, the South re-routed their commercial jets....

[Oberon]

Yeah, that's the latest out of Seoul, there's also the upcoming 'satellite' launch from Pyongyang which is most likely a Taepongdo II test.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but with Kims disappearance from the public scene (not to mention his photoshop event with those soldiers last year :haha: ) I can't help but wonder if he's been shunted onto the sidelines and someone else has taken over.

I dunno, it's probably nothing, but it's just something that keeps popping up in the backends of news reports.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7927520.stm

:hmmm:

[Enigma]

:har:

I had never seen that photo shopped picture until I just googled it. That's wild...

Per the war games: While interesting, it's pretty much par for the course for N Korea to get it's collective panties in a bunch whenever the U.S shows up to play "blow **** up" with the south....who knows...

[A Very Super Market]

North Korea is a state governed by an idiot, and populated with a pitifully small amount of people that create an aura of oppression wherever they go. The only country that I do believe is where socialism failed miserably. Though you could call more of a monarchy than anything

[CaptainHaplo]

Enigma,

The difference is you have a new administration that has been very clear they see a "diplomatic" solution to most of the problems - and diplomacy isn't something that NK respects. Its very likely they will proceed with the missile test, and dare the current administration to shoot it down (as they have stated they MIGHT do - if the circumstances warranted - and kudo's for them). They have been known to test and push to see what they can get away with - and I wouldn't be suprised if they did so again. If the current administration backs down - then a new leader WOULD likely strike south as a way of consolidating power and forcing the US into an untenable situation. I am not saying it will happen - just that history and an understanding of foreign relations with various countries show a possibility that is not "very remote".

[CaptainHaplo]

North Korea is a state governed by an idiot, and populated with a pitifully small amount of people that create an aura of oppression wherever they go. The only country that I do believe is where socialism failed miserably. Though you could call more of a monarchy than anything

I have to assume your not from the US - or if you are, you may be unaware of US history.

Socialism was tried - right here in the good ole USA - when the pilgrims arrived in Plymouth. The fact is that they tried to have a socialist system - and it failed miserably. The Indians kept them from starving - and the next year the governor, William Bradford, instituted a "capitalist" system where everyone worked for themselves instead of for the "mutual good of the colony". The result - a bountiful harvest that was celebrated on the original thanksgiving - August 9th.

William Bradford's diaries were lost and later recovered and detail the entire thing. People should read them and other original documents sometime for a bit of truth instead of the claptrap that is taught nowadays as "history".

[UnderseaLcpl]

The only country that I do believe is where socialism failed miserably.


What!? Either I don't get the joke, or I don't understand your interpretation of the words "socialst", "failed", and "miserably".

[A Very Super Market]

Bah, just forget I said anything. We all know its pointless, and I for one don't get any sick kicks from arguin- no, yelling with each other.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Bah, just forget I said anything. We all know its pointless, and I for one don't get any sick kicks from arguin- no, yelling with each other.

No, please say what you mean. I can assure you that at least one person here is interested, whether or not we agree. What is your reasoning behind your statement? And I promise that there will be no yelling or capslock posts from me.

[August]

Socialism arguments aside, this is obviously a case of NK saber rattling designed to test the Obama administration.

[Aramike]

Socialism arguments aside, this is obviously a case of NK saber rattling designed to test the Obama administration.Indeed.

Also, considering that there's a Clinton as Sec. State, I'm guessing the NK government is looking to make further economic gains for promises.

Seriously, does anyone doubt that the North Koreans have the game down pat? The posture as a bunch of jerks then demand concessions from the West to stop posturing. President Clinton was a gold mine for NK, and I'm betting they're gambling Obama will be as well.

[Oberon]

Clinton may be, but the new ROK president is no fool, he's dropped the sunshine policy, which of course sent the DPRK back into shutdown mode.
Still, we'll see what comes about on Monday :hmmm:

[geetrue]

How long has Kim been missing from public view?

His ego is too big to be missing for long ...

[Oberon]

How long has Kim been missing from public view?

His ego is too big to be missing for long ...

He's been strangely absent since at least last April, he didn't show up to the torch ceremony in Pyongyang, and didn't show for a military parade in September. A photo was released in November of Kim which supposedly showed him posing with members of the Korean Peoples Army, but it looks like that might well have been shopped.
There's been a lot of reports of strokes and such forth coming out of Japan and China, but as with everything in the DPRK, no hard facts.

[nikimcbee]

Hopefully when they send klinton over there, she has a better translator than she does for Russian.:haha:

[Oberon]

Hopefully when they send klinton over there, she has a better translator than she does for Russian.:haha:

Let's hope so! :har: