North Korea
- Thread starter milefile
- 34 comments
- 1,899 views
Well, I feel about the same on North Korea as I do on Iraq which is simply that if they ever tried something really stupid, they could get no real world support and would end up being crushed, even by former allies like China, who don't want to disappoint the United States. Therefore, they're not a threat in any capacity. The problem that exists in North Korea and not Iraq is the fact that North Korea doesn't oppress their people to the extent of Iraq, and the North Koreans are very seriously involved in what they believe in -- the problem is that they often believe in the 'Death to America' philosophy so popular to the axis of evil. The people of North Korea are hostile enough and resourceful enough to do some damage of their own, if maybe fueled slightly by their (fairly popular) government. In Iraq's case, on the other hand, the people are oppressed, they're laid back, and they have no violent anti-American demonstrations or riots because the government already conveys the point that the country is anti-American and doesn't need the people to push it.
Overall, North Korea definitely poses no current or immediate threat, and I think they're cleaning up their act. The next few years and The War Against Terror will tell, I suppose.
Overall, North Korea definitely poses no current or immediate threat, and I think they're cleaning up their act. The next few years and The War Against Terror will tell, I suppose.
- 10,081
- WFG9
As far as I know, North Korea has a weaker economy than Iraq does and is thus very dependent on the sale of arms and the purchase of oil. The supposed problems are that N. Korea does not care who they sell to, and that there nuclear program is thought to be more advanced than Iraq's. N. Korea may have a few nuclear weapons, too. And there has been mention of camps of the human rights offending kind. Famine is another major concern; great food shortages. It's also a socialistic nation, so economic growth is a problem.
I really am not sure of China's relationship to North Korea, but a few things I suspect may be restraining us is that N. Korea may collapse without military involvement; with the possibility of nuclear weapons it may be thought too dangerous to be overly aggressive; we may be concerned with the soldiers along the DMZ and how or if we could protect or move them in time, and with how that would effect S Korea; South Korea's sunshine policy, what has been called appeasement, may be an indication of a lack of support for a tougher stance on N. Korea, unlike Iraq whose Kurds may support a war against Saddam, and S. Korean's, at least the younger generation, seems to dislike a hard stance with their neighbor; should China go against our action they would be very difficult to contend with. I do not even know that the geography is good for a military strike, or if we would have much support. Us interest and influence may be weaker in that area.
I really am not sure of China's relationship to North Korea, but a few things I suspect may be restraining us is that N. Korea may collapse without military involvement; with the possibility of nuclear weapons it may be thought too dangerous to be overly aggressive; we may be concerned with the soldiers along the DMZ and how or if we could protect or move them in time, and with how that would effect S Korea; South Korea's sunshine policy, what has been called appeasement, may be an indication of a lack of support for a tougher stance on N. Korea, unlike Iraq whose Kurds may support a war against Saddam, and S. Korean's, at least the younger generation, seems to dislike a hard stance with their neighbor; should China go against our action they would be very difficult to contend with. I do not even know that the geography is good for a military strike, or if we would have much support. Us interest and influence may be weaker in that area.
I'm not sure if any country with the possible exception of Cuba and other countries with temporarily poor economies (like Venezula is now or Argentina was a few months ago) has a worse economy than Iraq, who is basically not allowed to trade with other countries except for the back door.
I forgot to mention this, but it's an interesting point, and a truly tough situation for any president if things ever really did heat up in the de-militarised zone. Unknowingly, by making a series of fairly logical decisions, a president could engage the United States in another unpopular, costly, and deadly war. It's no secret we don't like North Korea.
Naah, they're indifferent. I think the main problem is acceptance of the United States's policies, since any North Korean conflicts would be done with the joint interests of South Korea and the United States in mind. South Koreans probably see that 50/50 split as a threat to their country since the country on the other side of the coin is thousands of miles away, whereas they're only hundreds.
Even the simple threat of China going against our action, as we saw in Vietnam, is enough to scare the pants off this country.
- 10,832
This so-called sunshine policy is kind of a slap in the face to America. But that's not even the important part. The important part is that America want's it's allies to be more like puppets, at least currently they do. Sount Korea lightening its stance on North Korea is bad news for America.
The North Korean's admission that they do, indeed, have a nuclear weapons program is bad news, too. What the hell do they plan on doing with nukes? They'd never have enough to come after America. So what are they supposed to deter? Nobody has any plans to conquer North Korea, do they?
The fact the they have removed surveillance cameras from they're nulear power plants, which are not supposed to be running, is another bad development. Now they can reprocess uranium into weapons and nobody will know. And it seems like this is exactly what they plan to do.
I'm getting the impression that North Korea is intentionally pushing-it. I can't see why, though. Nobody benefits from it.
North Korea is a very backward place. The population is weak and hungry, mostly rural poor. Their totalitarian regime and communist ways have sent the country backward while all of it's nieghbors move forward, even China. It just doesn't seem to be in their interest to screw around with nukes.
And as far as China goes... I don't think the American military fears China. The only thing they have more of than America is people. In a war China would fall quickly. We've been watching them for a long time. And it's neighbors are our allies, except North Korea. But I seriously doubt it would ever come to that. Everybody understands how disasterous it'd be. We don't go to war for pride anymore... right?
The North Korean's admission that they do, indeed, have a nuclear weapons program is bad news, too. What the hell do they plan on doing with nukes? They'd never have enough to come after America. So what are they supposed to deter? Nobody has any plans to conquer North Korea, do they?
The fact the they have removed surveillance cameras from they're nulear power plants, which are not supposed to be running, is another bad development. Now they can reprocess uranium into weapons and nobody will know. And it seems like this is exactly what they plan to do.
I'm getting the impression that North Korea is intentionally pushing-it. I can't see why, though. Nobody benefits from it.
North Korea is a very backward place. The population is weak and hungry, mostly rural poor. Their totalitarian regime and communist ways have sent the country backward while all of it's nieghbors move forward, even China. It just doesn't seem to be in their interest to screw around with nukes.
And as far as China goes... I don't think the American military fears China. The only thing they have more of than America is people. In a war China would fall quickly. We've been watching them for a long time. And it's neighbors are our allies, except North Korea. But I seriously doubt it would ever come to that. Everybody understands how disasterous it'd be. We don't go to war for pride anymore... right?
- 10,081
- WFG9
Some weeks ago I saw a program on North Korea, the host referred to it as a socialist state.
- 4,677
I think you can ask that question about every country that has nukes. Why?
Maybe they don't see them as offensive weapons, but as defensive weapons. Maybe they think they're getting attacked by someone. I don't know why they would think that, but you never know how they think, right?
Well, that's a bit harsh - it was one country until the place got annexed by the Japanese, and the US and the USSR split the peninsula up after WW2 - the South Koreans just want to reunite the country (think of East and West Germany prior to unification).
Given how the South Koreans are now, I think they're actually just after home market economies of scale (just kidding, if there are any South Koreans reading this).
Surprised to learn today's North Korea developments on a rather slow news day. I shall make this prediction now: If Korea heats up, it will make or break the Bush administration. If he messes Korea up, he won't be re-elected. I guess we'll see if Korea turns any more hostile than they appear to have gotten recently, oddly coinciding with a mention on a certain list with Iran and Iraq. 
My sister just returned from teaching in South Korea. She took a day trip up to the border. These are some of the photos she took.
The Guard on the left is a North Korean guard. That gray (concrete thing, not the steel grate, thats drainage) thing running across the picture is the border, anything in the foreground is South Korean, while anything where the guard is standing is North Korean. That little strip of concrete stretches the entire width of Korea and is the actual border.
The Guard on the right is a South Korean guard. The stance is called Rock Ready. Intimidating? They look far more intimidating then the North guards. They kinda look like wimps.
The big grey building in the background of the last photo is North Korean. The blue buildings are Neutral. This photo is taken in South Korea, looking at North Korea. I don't think there is any access to the North from the South and vice versa.
Well I just thought I'd share these with you since were on the subject.
The Guard on the left is a North Korean guard. That gray (concrete thing, not the steel grate, thats drainage) thing running across the picture is the border, anything in the foreground is South Korean, while anything where the guard is standing is North Korean. That little strip of concrete stretches the entire width of Korea and is the actual border.
The Guard on the right is a South Korean guard. The stance is called Rock Ready. Intimidating? They look far more intimidating then the North guards. They kinda look like wimps.
The big grey building in the background of the last photo is North Korean. The blue buildings are Neutral. This photo is taken in South Korea, looking at North Korea. I don't think there is any access to the North from the South and vice versa.
Well I just thought I'd share these with you since were on the subject.
Attachments
- 3,194
incase you guy's ahvent noticed,.... were on the brink of WWIII,... all there is left is to identify one more section to the millenial axes of evil....... when that happens,.. get your hard hat's on and head for the basement,.... hpefully they don't blow up CNN to early, LOL.
- 12,993
- USA! USA!
I have nothing important to say except that I love that acronym.
Carry on.
- 3,425
The north Koreans can destroy the northern part of south Korea and kill millions of south Koreans with artillery alone. Until and unless the U.S can do something to prevent that from happening thier options are kind of limited, dont'cha think ? It must be a real blast living so close to a nut case, with that many weapons and the willingness to use them , without reguard to his own , or any other people.
- 10,832
So... Time to revisit this.
North Korea says in talks with China and the US that they have nuclear weapons and have no qualms about testing them, using them, or selling them to whomever. They also added that they have already reprocessed all their spent fuel rods. The talk ended abruptly.
North Korea may well be next. Trouble is, Seoul is within artillery range of the DMZ. It would be very messy, more messy than Iraq for sure. For starters, North Koreans are thoroughly indoctrinated, propagandized and isolated. They wouldn't surrender like the Iraqis did.
So what will Bush do if North Korea tests a nuclear bomb?
North Korea says in talks with China and the US that they have nuclear weapons and have no qualms about testing them, using them, or selling them to whomever. They also added that they have already reprocessed all their spent fuel rods. The talk ended abruptly.
North Korea may well be next. Trouble is, Seoul is within artillery range of the DMZ. It would be very messy, more messy than Iraq for sure. For starters, North Koreans are thoroughly indoctrinated, propagandized and isolated. They wouldn't surrender like the Iraqis did.
So what will Bush do if North Korea tests a nuclear bomb?
- 10,081
- WFG9
Whatever it is, no one will like it because they will place 99.999% of the blame on Bush. That means the least troubling of his options are going to be viewed as equally troubling as the worst option when looked through the "it's your fault" prism. What most probably want is for a ton of concessions to be made.
