North Korea, Sanctions, and Kim Jong-un

[Dotini]

This process of nuclear bomb proliferation has gone on long enough. Really, too long.

In the beginning, the bomb was created by white European and American males to demolish Japan. Not much later, the USSR had the bomb to counter the US. Then China had to have the bomb to counter the USSR. Then India needed it to counter China. Then Pakistan to counter India.

There is no need that I can see for North Korea to possess the bomb - nor an intercontinental missile to deliver it. I'm in favor of denuclearization. By diplomacy if possible, by Draconian sanctions if necessary.

 

[Grayfox]

Well what yield would this bomb be?
100t?

If it does go off in north korea which will be bad, would also end the stupidity as I would assume it would be close to the supreme leader.

 

[Johnnypenso]

"These are my photos from my trip to North Korea, quite possibly the most mysterious country on the planet. The photos focus on what it was like getting into the country and then exploring Pyongyang, North Korea's capital and the largest city. My trip began in China, where I would eventually board a train into North Korea, a method of entry that isn't available to American tourists, who are required to fly in."

Article here:

http://www.businessinsider.de/photos-from-inside-north-korea-2016-3?r=US&IR=T

Dude!! Headline story on CNN!!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/travel/north-korea-tourist-photos/index.html

 

[TenEightyOne]

Dude!! Headline story on CNN!!

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/travel/north-korea-tourist-photos/index.html

I thought we'd established that they weren't @zzz_pt's pictures, he just quoted an article?

 

[Johnnypenso]

I thought we'd established that they weren't @zzz_pt's pictures, he just quoted an article?

Oops...guess I misread that

 

[prousonhairy]

Has anybody been following this North Korea story with the American student? He got sentenced to 15 years today in a labor camp. Apparently he tried to steal a North Korean propaganda banner. I know that's an extemely harsh sentence, but assuming he actually did that, what the 🤬 was he thinking.

I don't know why anyone would want to visit that place anyways under the current regime. If you did visit, wouldn't you be on your best behavior? I guess there's a good possibility that he didn't do anything and he's just set up. I still don't know why anyone would want to go, if you can end up in a labor camp for no reason at all.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3472...th-korea-sentences-us-tourist-15-years-prison

 

[FoRiZon]

Has anybody been following this North Korea story with the American student? He got sentenced to 15 years today in a labor camp. Apparently he tried to steal a North Korean propaganda banner. I know that's a extemely harsh sentence, but assuming he actually did that, what the 🤬 was he thinking.

I don't know why anyone would want to visit that place anyways under the current regime. If you did visit, wouldn't you be on your best behavior? I guess there's a good possibility that he didn't do anything and he's just set up. I still don't know why anyone would want to go, if you can end up in a labor camp for no reason at all.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3472...th-korea-sentences-us-tourist-15-years-prison

I did 2 pages and 10 days ago when he still not sentenced:

An US Student thought it would be a good idea to steal a propaganda banner (Stupid young people stuff) . North Korea thought he is an undercover CIA Agent.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/28/asia/north-korea-otto-warmbier/

 

[Robin]

LOL WUT?

 

[JKgo]

LOL WUT?

...Great Scott, they're using CGI!!

Seriously though, that wasn't some weird satirical video mocked up by a bored Youtuber, right?

 

[prousonhairy]

...Great Scott, they're using CGI!!

Seriously though, that wasn't some weird satirical video mocked up by a bored Youtuber, right?

No it's legit. USA Today has it too, but the video is a little different in parts:



N. Korea video depicts nuclear attack on Washington

http://usat.ly/1Ms0D0G

 

[Grayfox]

...Great Scott, they're using CGI!!

Seriously though, that wasn't some weird satirical video mocked up by a bored Youtuber, right?

CGI from the 90s.

North Korea may be run by an idiot that loves to poke big bears with sticks but this idiot knows if he even press that launch button, hellfire will rain down.

 

[Robin]

CGI from the 90s.

North Korea may be run by an idiot that loves to poke big bears with sticks but this idiot knows if he even press that launch button, hellfire will rain down.

Yeah, he wouldn't be stupid enough to press the button because NK would disappear of the face of the Earth if he did. He has a pretty cushy life there so why jeopardise it. They just like being vocal which I guess is better for everyone.

 

[squadops]

Harsh sanctions that don't work on one side, and harsh words from a military that don't work on the other

 

[Touring Mars]

Thunderbirds are GO!

 

[G.T.Ace]

LOL WUT?

That was... beautiful in the weirdest possible way. I need that song as ringtone.

 

[Robin]

Harsh sanctions that don't work on one side, and harsh words from a military that don't work on the other

It's going to be like this forever!

 

[Blitz24]

It's going to be like this forever!

Until he dies and Kim Il Jung Ba Bong comes into power.

 

[squadops]

 

[JKgo]

Spoiler

 

[DK]

China has just announced sanctions against North Korea, banning the importing of North Korean gold, titanium, iron & iron accessories ore, coal and rare earth metals.

 

[FoRiZon]

China has just announced sanctions against North Korea, banning the importing of North Korean gold, titanium, iron & iron accessories ore, coal and rare earth metals.

OOOOH. Busted. Now the only North Koreans ally are Russia. And even then its very reluctantly like handling an obnoxious baby. If Russia joins the ban, expect next grand Famine soon in NK because NK Government arent for their people, but for their people enslavement.

How downfall it become. From the country that being helped by China to conquer South to... this.

 

[Rage Racer]

OOOOH. Busted. Now the only North Koreans ally are Russia.

Uhm, excuse me, when did RF become an ally of DPRK?..

If Russia joins the ban, expect next grand Famine soon in NK because NK Government arent for their people, but for their people enslavement.

Despite of its isolationism from the world, North Korea is highly dependent on external supplies. The most important is food, of course. One of the largest food aid donors is... the United States. (The others are China, South Korea, Japan and European Union. Russia helps too, but it's not one of the top donors.) When the aid is not enough and the world starts to forget about NK, it reminds of itself. Nuclear trolling is the best known way. Every time they say "We going to nuke you all!" etc, this should be interpreted as "Hey, youuu! In the White House! Give us some fooood!".

 

[TenEightyOne]

Uhm, excuse me, when did RF become an ally of DPRK?..

1948 until the Yeltsin government when South Korea became favoured. The Treaty of Friendship re-aligned them in 2000 after Poo-tin came to power. Russia supports the sanctions against DPRK but also lobbies for them to be lifted immediately upon DPRK's cessation of weaponised nuclear activities.

Russia has since written off about 90% of DPRK's debt to them in return for first-refusal on investment in their state companies.

 

[JKgo]

Poo-tin

...Give this man a cookie.

You also neglected to mention the current wave of GPS jamming by NK near the DMZ are performed by the "latest" Russian-made military equipment, something Kim and his cronies aren't supposed to have.

 

[squadops]

...Give this man a cookie.

He's not quite as good, but he does a decent job, his people love him as much I'm sure.

 

[Rage Racer]

1948

That's whay I said "RF", meaning the Russian Federation and not the Soviet Union. What's been later is the establishments of economic relations, humanitarian aid - in other words, nothing more than the Western powers do for NK. Which is not enough to call Russia a North Korea's ally, IMO.

South Korea is still favoured here. Recently (2013 if I'm not wrong) it became visa-free for travelling.

 

[TenEightyOne]

What's been later is the establishments of economic relations, humanitarian aid - in other words, nothing more than the Western powers do for NK.

I disagree, no other country has allied themselves with, for example, a Treaty of Friendship such as that between DPRK and RF.

Which is not enough to call Russia a North Korea's ally, IMO.

Then you're using the wrong meaning of the word.

a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.

No other country has given such a large monetary let to DPRK or invested so heavily in DPRK's state companies.

South Korea is still favoured here. Recently (2013 if I'm not wrong) it became visa-free for travelling.

Irrelevant, ties with the two Koreas are clearly not a boolean proposition.

 

[Dan]

LOL WUT?

Video's been removed.

 

[Robin]

Video's been removed.

 

[Rage Racer]

I disagree, no other country has allied themselves with, for example, a Treaty of Friendship such as that between DPRK and RF.

Like I said, the "Treaty" (AFAIK) was all about economic contacts, air traffic, rescue cooperation, etc. But the major trade partner of DPRK is China.
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/prk/

Russia isn't even on the second place in any category, and not even 1/10 of the total amount of trade values.

Judging by the numbers of trade turnover, Russia is rather South Korea's ally than North. Even in military relations, if I'm not wrong, DPRK has an actual defense treaty with China only.

Then you're using the wrong meaning of the word.

My understanding of "ally" is more like political/military. In my mind, North Korea doesn't seem to be having any allies at all. Well, only China can be just barely called an ally of NK.