North Korea, Sanctions, and Kim Jong-un

[Ryanswannell]

Are they all required to wear masks of him as well?

I dunno, but what if a male in North Korea is bald? That's probably going to land him, his kids and their kids in a death camp I presume?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

From the sounds of things, only young men are required to get them. And keep them, I assume. Older men would be exempt.

 

[Ryanswannell]

Is there a worse run country than N.K on this planet?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yes. Australia. North Korea might be backwards, but at least they're consistent. We're at an all-time low as to how we're being run.

 

[Grayfox]

Are they all required to wear masks of him as well?

Dont bag out the handsome jack masks, you get it for killing him but no one uses it.

Yes. Australia. North Korea might be backwards, but at least they're consistent. We're at an all-time low as to how we're being run.

We've gone back to knights and dames and the one that chooses them is the PM himself.

So he will knight himself

Sir Tony Abbott.
or even
Dame Toni Abbott.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

We've gone back to knights and dames and the one that chooses them is the PM himself.

I was thinking more about the way they all seem more interested in boosting their own profiles than actually representing their constituents. Nick Xenophon is probably the only decent politician at the federal level.

 

[TenEightyOne]

T'was ever thus. Power corrupts, etc.

Is there really an Oz politician with a name so similiar to "Xenophobe"? What a gift

 

[Grayfox]

Xenophon.

I am sure he is just as his last name implies, afraid of someone that is different

 

[TenEightyOne]

Xenophon.

I am sure he is just as his last name implies, afraid of someone that is different

Gosh, I need to brush up on my classics

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He was born Nicolas Xenophou, and Anglicanised his name when he emigrated here.

 

[Famine]

Is there a worse run country than N.K on this planet?

Turkmenistan, for a while.

Saparmurat Niyazov Turkmenbasy renamed days of the week and months of the year after himself and his family, he banned dogs from the country's capital because they didn't smell right, he outlawed ballet and the circus, he banned libraries - believing that the only books the Turkmen people needed to read were the Qu'ran and his own Ruhnama - and he made lip-synching illegal. He also had a 250 foot marble arch built with a 40 foot gold statue of himself that rotated to always face the sun - along with a 40 foot gold pyramid and an ice palace.

Oh and he effectively banned the internet, allowing only Turkmen Telecom to provide it. Which was, of course, state owned.

 

[Blitz24]

Turkmenistan, for a while.

Saparmurat Niyazov Turkmenbasy renamed days of the week and months of the year after himself and his family, he banned dogs from the country's capital because they didn't smell right, he outlawed ballet and the circus, he banned libraries - believing that the only books the Turkmen people needed to read were the Qu'ran and his own Ruhnama - and he made lip-synching illegal. He also had a 250 foot marble arch built with a 40 foot gold statue of himself that rotated to always face the sun - along with a 40 foot gold pyramid and an ice palace.

Oh and he effectively banned the internet, allowing only Turkmen Telecom to provide it. Which was, of course, state owned.

How did his power trip end?

 

[Famine]

Heart attack in 2006. His successor had, by 2010, undone most things.

 

[Blitz24]

So the days of the week have been renamed again.

 

[Dotini]

http://news.yahoo.com/japan-orders-...14--sector.html;_ylt=AwrBJSCofj9TaTQAkX_QtDMD

Rumor that recently installed militarist Japanese PM Abe has ordered his navy to shoot down any new North Korean missile launches.

It is widely known that NK periodically launches missiles over the sea for test and propaganda purposes. Perhaps the flame and roar of missile tests help the NK's to feel better about about themselves? But with Japan's new militarism, is the stage now set for accidental or deliberate war between Japan and North Korea? How is it that the Japanese, humbled and enforced into pacifism by WWII, now take it upon themselves to initiate a more aggressive military policy? Should Uncle Sam encourage or restrain such hostilities?

 

[Ryanswannell]

http://news.yahoo.com/japan-orders-...14--sector.html;_ylt=AwrBJSCofj9TaTQAkX_QtDMD

Rumor that recently installed militarist Japanese PM Abe has ordered his navy to shoot down any new North Korean missile launches.

It is widely known that NK periodically launches missiles over the sea for test and propaganda purposes. Perhaps the flame and roar of missile tests help the NK's to feel better about about themselves? But with Japan's new militarism, is the stage now set for accidental or deliberate war between Japan and North Korea? How is it that the Japanese, humbled and enforced into pacifism by WWII, now take it upon themselves to initiate a new, potentially nuclear war? Should Uncle Sam encourage or restrain such hostilities?

The article only stated that Japan would shoot down any missiles, but nowhere did it state that they would retaliate.
It wouldn't be much of a war if only one side was fighting, would it?

Also, no, the American government should not step in at all. It's a matter that doesn't involve them, and it should stay that way.

 

[Lizard]

http://news.yahoo.com/japan-orders-...14--sector.html;_ylt=AwrBJSCofj9TaTQAkX_QtDMD

Rumor that recently installed militarist Japanese PM Abe has ordered his navy to shoot down any new North Korean missile launches.

It is widely known that NK periodically launches missiles over the sea for test and propaganda purposes. Perhaps the flame and roar of missile tests help the NK's to feel better about about themselves? But with Japan's new militarism, is the stage now set for accidental or deliberate war between Japan and North Korea? How is it that the Japanese, humbled and enforced into pacifism by WWII, now take it upon themselves to initiate a new, potentially nuclear war? Should Uncle Sam encourage or restrain such hostilities?

Japan know they have the upper hand here though as any war will bring America in on there side. If America refuse then bye bye US bases in Japan.
Japan is suddenly realising it is a major power if it wants to be. I can't remember who but some scholars talk about the "Japanese problem" like they use to talk about the "German problem", as in they can be crushed but will still come back strong etc.
Personally I think it is about time Japan joined the top world powers in terms of capability. Ps May be incredibly biased there.

Also where did they mention war? They just mentioned shooting down missiles.

 

[BobK]

Also where did they mention war? They just mentioned shooting down missiles.

Bolded part is an act of war. Regardless of why.

 

[Lizard]

Bolded part is an act of war. Regardless of why.

Still where did they mention going to war? An act of aggression like that is unlikely to get a full scale response seeing the advantage Japan has. It would likely take an invasion to bring out the measures being talked about.

Even realist IR theorists see states as rational actors.

 

[BobK]

Still where did they mention going to war? An act of aggression like that is unlikely to get a full scale response seeing the advantage Japan has. It would likely take an invasion to bring out the measures being talked about.

The article didn't mention going to war at all, @Dotini did. He can be a bit, shall we say, alarmist at times.

 

[Ryanswannell]

The article didn't mention going to war at all, @Dotini did. He can be a bit, shall we say, alarmist at times.

At least I'm not the only one who has noticed

 

[a6m5]

Militarism is back in Japan, huh? Who needs to read Chinese paper when you can read all about it & milatrist PM Abe on gtplanet.

 

[Lizard]

I don't believe Japan actually care about North Korea at the moment. I think they are trying to justify their argument that they should have a spot on the UN security council.

 

[a6m5]

I don't believe Japan actually care about North Korea at the moment. I think they are trying to justify their argument that they should have a spot on the UN security council.

How do you figure? Both coveting the UN seat & concern with North Korea are ongoing issues with Japan. Ongoing for many decades.

 

[Keef]

How is it that the Japanese, humbled and enforced into pacifism by WWII, now take it upon themselves to initiate a new, potentially nuclear war?

How isn't it that being humbled and forced into pacifism won't eventually have negative consequences? It took Germany two tries to figure it out and once again they're in a dominant position in Europe, at least economically. What about Russia? I'm surprised it took Japan this long to grow some balls.

Should Uncle Sam encourage or restrain such hostilities?

Uncle Sam should shut up because he's had too much to drink.

 

[a6m5]

Japan have not grown anything, Keef. When DPRK, this country, straight out of Orson Welles' 1984, who happened to make nuclear threats at Japan before(at the least hinted), located just few hundred miles away have fired numerous rockets towards & also one over Japan in last few years. Japan has said that it will shoot the missile down...... if it, or its debris may hit Japan.

The controversial Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution still prohibit Japan from doing anything to North Korea. Dotini's opinion of Japan instigating nuclear war, because we may shoot down a missile that may hit us is just that. His opinion. It's like accusing someone of murder in self-defense. Yeah, that sounds legit, NO. If North Korea decide to start a nuclear war because their rocket that may hit Japan was shot down, that's on them.

We still have no balls, and no spine.

 

[Dotini]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...world-wait-new-nuclear-test-article-1.1746864

Article stating North Korea is on the verge of another nuclear test of a "new form".

As much as I'd like to believe that NK is deploying realist IR practices, I worry that their living feudal and animist roots color their motives in less than rational hues.

I'm also concerned about the health of the Japanese national psyche. Prolonged economic stagnation, malaise amongst young males, Chinese territorial depredations and the ongoing nightmare of Fukushima all tear at the self-confidence and mental health of the Japanese culture.

In such circumstances, fear, distrust and paranoia may become magnified. Poor judgment, hasty reactions and miscalculations can have negative global effects. Particularly when entangling treaties and alliances can draw in other actors to the psychodrama, however unwillingly.

Disclaimer: The foregoing is only my opinion. I don't believe in right or wrong, good or bad, but rather in shades in gray and an amusing story.

 

[a6m5]

I'm also concerned about the health of the Japanese national psyche. Prolonged economic stagnation, malaise amongst young males, Chinese territorial depredations and the ongoing nightmare of Fukushima all tear at the self-confidence and mental health of the Japanese culture.

In such circumstances, fear, distrust and paranoia may become magnified. Poor judgment, hasty reactions and miscalculations can have negative global effects. Particularly when entangling treaties and alliances can draw in other actors to the psychodrama, however unwillingly.

Disclaimer: The foregoing is only my opinion. I don't believe in right or wrong, good or bad, but rather in shades in gray and an amusing story.

I don't understand. Are you implying that, due to your theory, Japanese Government, or the Self-Defense Force may violate the Constitution & attack North Korea?

 

[Dotini]

I don't understand. Are you implying that, due to your theory, Japanese Government, or the Self-Defense Force may violate the Constitution & attack North Korea?

No. I'm implying that fooling around with bombs and missiles may get two confused parties into unnecessary conflict.

It takes two to tango.

 

[a6m5]

No. I'm implying that fooling around with bombs and missiles may get two confused parties into unnecessary conflict.

I see pushing, pushing, then more pushing coming from just one side, but I do have a dog in the fight. Is it considered fooling around when you are shooting down a missile/rocket that's about to hit your country?

It takes two to tango.

Isn't it more like blocking an attack from an assailant?