North Korea v America

[Winston001]

While the collapse of the North Korean government may lead to war with China, it will definitely lead to one of the most challenging peacekeeping operations ever.

Faarrgg war with China? Nobody - nobody wants that. It isn't a minor issue. Peacekeeping is purely theoretical if China feels threatened.

[Zedder]

Faarrgg war with China? Nobody - nobody wants that. It isn't a minor issue. Peacekeeping is purely theoretical if China feels threatened.

Interestingly enough, I read China itself is calling for restraint all round and the US in turn is asking them to apply pressure on North Korea to be sensible given their strong relationship.

China then, doesn't appear to have much of a warlike stance on the situation at all but rather a softer approach.

[Akzle]

Faarrgg war with China? Nobody - nobody wants that. It isn't a minor issue. Peacekeeping is purely theoretical if China feels threatened.

the us does. Then they can write off the debt, fix the economoney, and fund their next occupation.

[Swoop]

4 April 2013: The mythical North Korean “Ministry of Intimidation” is working overtime to come up with new threats each day. The government is using these threats mainly to create tension inside North Korea and more support for new ruler Kim Jong Un. This is essential this time of year, because the food shortages are always worst just before new crops are planted. But it’s also the time of year when it gets warmer and the days are longer. This is a big deal because of the growing electricity shortages.

This sort of drama in North Korea is nothing new, but it’s never been played this hard and long before. This theatre always has a happy ending, with the third act featuring an imaginary victory for North Korea but no real change for anyone. It is all theatre, backed up by the threat of violence that never becomes real.

This time North Korea has got the word’s attention to an extent never seen before. For most of the planet this is all entertainment, but for most North Koreans it’s their lives and when all the shouting is done most North Koreans are still cold, hungry and in the dark without real prospects of much of a future. Spectacular theatrics can only do so much. The really important issue is what North Korean leaders do after the curtain comes down. What happens after the show is over. To actually go to war would be suicidal for the North Korean leadership. Most of them know that, but in the last few years more and more of them have been making preparations to flee the country. These theatrics only delay the continued decline of the economy and government ability to control the increasingly restive population. In the last year the government has promised spectacular improvements in the economy. This did not happen. Creating a state of war with the neighbours will not reverse that failure and North Koreans will still be hungry and poor when all the artificial anger and angst dissipates. The world can only wait to see how this plays out.

As in the past, what North Korea wants is more money, food and other aid from South Korea and other wealthy nations. The North Korean threats don’t feature this angle, but it’s in the small print. In effect, its extortion as in’ “if you want us to shut up, pay up.” While there is still disagreement in the North Korean leadership about how to fix the decrepit North Korean economy, it’s agreed that lots of free food, fuel, cash and other aid would help a great deal.

If North Korea does attack, it is expected to be small scale stuff. This might include attacks (like torpedoing an American or South Korean warship) that the north could deny. If the U.S. or South Korea reacted violently to these small attacks North Korea could then declare itself the victim of unprovoked aggression and demand that the UN halt the violence and help North Korea obtain compensation.

Over the last few days many North Korean military units put on alert (meaning more busy work and less sleep) have been taken off and gone back to their usual duties (growing food or working in factories plus training that did not involve using up fuel or spare parts).

The North Korean government is doing more local stuff to improve morale. It was recently announced that the best universities would no longer automatically accept children of the ruling elite but that admittance would be open to everyone according to their abilities, not their family background. About ten percent of North Koreans are much better off than everyone else up there. These people work for the bureaucracy, military or security agencies, and their families are considered “loyal”.
Most of the rest of the population are considered members of historically “disloyal” families.

The new admissions policy is a major change in the class politics that has long characterized social and economic mobility in the north. This is meant to make Kim Jong Un appear to be a reformer and someone the unhappy North Koreans can trust.

[Kermit250]

Where are you getting this from??? It's good reading anyway

[Road kill]

Where are you getting this from??? It's good reading anyway

Out of his hip pocket like everybody else.

[oldrider]

Kim Jong Un is a new broom and has to find a new party trick to capture the imagination of his people and re-establish a reason to be loyal to him!

There are very few options left open to him, he either has to feed his people or show them a reason to continue with the status quo!

Like in a school yard confrontation ... either throw a punch or walk away because if you don't the crowd will lose interest and forget you.

I think someone else has more interest in keeping him going in this direction than he has. I smell big money interests!

[puddytat]

On a lighter note....

[Swoop]

Out of his hip pocket like everybody else.

Perhaps you would like to educate us mere plebs, on the geo-political situation in North Korea, using information that comes from other sources apart from tvnz "news" or Seven Sharp, please.

There's a good chap.

[mashman]

I guess they haven't paid the bill

[nudemetalz]

What's the lights in the Yellow Sea?

[Nova.]

What's the lights in the Yellow Sea?

Lights, probably.

[mashman]

What's the lights in the Yellow Sea?

Dunno. Ships maybe? Rigs? Aliems?

[awa355]

I;ve always wondered where Alantis was

[pete376403]

Squid boats. The light attracts the squid to the surface