North Korea says standoff with US at "brink of nuclear war"

[quade 4]

Meanwhile, half-way 'round the planet, another crisis brews.

Fortunately, this time it appears that someone in the Administration is paying attention -- well, Cheney is visiting the area at least.

Most of the western press is concerned with the latest is Iraqi insurgent tactics of kidnapping civilians and I haven't seen a lot of coverage of this lately.

It'll be interesting to see the saber rattling in NK, but is there more to it than that? Is KIM Chong-il actually that nuts to start a nuke war?

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/040409/1/3jdy5.html

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[airtwardo 7]

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Is KIM Chong-il actually that nuts to start a nuke war?

***

Yup!

Start stocking up on canned food and ammunition!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[storm1977 0]

IS he.... Yes.

He is also an ego-maniac, part of the reason why things are heating up again. He knows what is going on and he misses all the attention. Iraq is front page news and he has been left behind for now.....

And like the spoiled brat he is, he can't deal with that.

Most of the NK situation could be handled with a couple of well placed bullets.

There are a lot of differences between NK and Iraq, and the 2 situations need to be handled differently. Now, I fear NK in the sense that their army is huge and we also know they have nukes, but if this were to escilate..... We know we have Japan, and probably China on our side. China is a tougher one to sell, but I think they know it is their best interest not to have the US Dropping Nukes on there doorstep, and they will therefore help our cause.

Luckily, China's army makes NK's army look small :-)

Chris

-----------------------------------------------------
Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty

[Kennedy 0]

And what exactly has changed to bring us to "the brink of nuclear war?" That little wind bag is so full of shit his breath must stink. He's just making a scene because Cheney is in the area working up support for Iraq and is stopping in South Korea.

Spain rolled over to threats, but I just can't see that going over in the Japanese psyche. This is a culture that valued death to hide shame rather than to disgrace those close to you. They may be getting "westernized," but I don't think they'll roll to threats or blackmail.

As to is the little windbag crazy enough to fire off his nukes? At anything short of an invasion I say no. He can grandstand and have rallies and parades all he wants, but he has nil military strength. They don't even have enough gas to reach Seoul if they were to attack. So anything short of requiring a military response to survive, he'll just piss and moan and threaten to rain fire on Southeast Asia.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[rickjump1 0]

Why not get the USS Pueblo home with our troops, and start guarding our own borders. It's time for South Korea to handle their own affairs. PS I flew South Korean troops around in Vietnam and they can kick ass.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[RoadRash 0]

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Spain rolled over to threats, but I just can't see that going over in the Japanese psyche. This is a culture that valued death to hide shame rather than to disgrace those close to you. They may be getting "westernized," but I don't think they'll roll to threats or blackmail.

The Japanese WILL NOT back down. Simple as that! Actually, take into account that the Japanese valued family honor above all else and would commit seppuku when shamed or to avoid shame on one's family, however, despite "westernization" there has been a rising tide of nationalistic beliefs that harken back to the days of WWII and the "old ways" and old beliefs. ...Whether or not North Korea will blow the world to bits using nukes...I don't think so, he has bigger fish to fry, but he is using the threat of nuclear war to receive large sums of money. He wants to make a deal...


Just my $0.02

~R+R

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~...

[billvon 3,116]

>Is KIM Chong-il actually that nuts to start a nuke war?

I doubt it. He's all rhetoric and no action. I think he is smart enough, though, to see how we deal with dictators who do _not_ have nuclear weapons. He sees a nuclear arsenal as a good deterrent, a way to change a preemptive invasion into a diplomatic solution. So far, seems to be working.

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

>Is KIM Chong-il actually that nuts to start a nuke war?

I doubt it. He's all rhetoric and no action. I think he is smart enough, though, to see how we deal with dictators who do _not_ have nuclear weapons. He sees a nuclear arsenal as a good deterrent, a way to change a preemptive invasion into a diplomatic solution. So far, seems to be working.

***

Ordinarly~

I tend to agree with a lot of your views
on subjects like this Bill.

But I believe your analysis in this case
is wishful thinking...

I certainly HOPE he is rational enough
to consider all possible actions and responses
in this regard.

But his track record isn't really one of
careful deliberation....

As they say here in Texas,

That boy just ain't WIRED right!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[christelsabine 1]

do you really want to compare Korean to the Japanese psyche? a Japanes one will kill you instantly if you call him a Korean... this just aside. Koreans and Japanese are completely different.

I'v been living in Korea for a while. do not underestimate their lovely KIM_and_something....the Koreans always are dominated by one KIM which they followed blindly.

he is well aware to be the chief of a nuclear weapon force, he's weired (or: wired wrong, as said in this thread), he'll love that Cheney or whoever it might be, is looking for support in the Far East.

if ncessary, he will use his power. he is isolate in the FE. he is dangerous. do not simply call him a little windbag. this is arbitrary estimation of someone, you really cannot classify into a certain drawer.

you're right: he will not even have gaz enough to reach South Korea. but will have power enought to push the red button. he's crazy enough. and crazy people are dangerous.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Kennedy 0]

My comments on Japan were related to recent events in Iraq and Cheney's largest reason for traveling. I did not compare Korean and Japanese psyches. At least the Japanese have a sense of humor. No human regularly consuming KimChi can maintain a sense of humor.

Sorry if I don't put too much stock in the 'news' coming out of North Korea. Their propaganda is more out there than anything the Soviets ever published.

He's been playing the "I have nukes, bribe me into peace" card for so long it's gotten old. There is no news there.

Like I said, he has no military outside his nukes. That makes him full o f piss and wind unless he is attacked.

He doesn't want to push the little red button any more than other world leaders. I won't argue whether he's crazy or not, that's not even open for debate. However, people who can't see repercussions to their actions have a very hard time staying in power. If nothing else, I'd say he's done a very good job staying in power.

I'd say I can put him in a drawer rather easily. He is an egomaniacal little dictator, ruling with an iron fist over his squalid little country, and he knows he has no power to affect things outside his borders other than one he can't really use.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[christelsabine 1]

Korea... Soviets .... what a bunch of triviality! of course, their propaganda differs from the one "we" in the west use to know. but: who really knows how much of your and our propaganda, yes, i call it propaganda, is censored?

it seems to be a specific US tradition to judge Asian countries. the US always failed on that.

the Korean Kim will move before he is attacked. and if this is onyl to press the rest of the world. blackmail, as said.

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i'd say i can put him in a drawer rather easily

:
BS
(remember America's misjudges on other Asian contries)

yes, he surely suffers egomania, he's controlling his poor hungry small country with an iron fist: who is telling you that he wants to affect anything outside of his dirty stinky country? only by knowing he can push the button, every country will be prepared to negotiate with him.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Kennedy 0]

While this may surprise some here, I do read.

Take a peek at Manufacturing Consent. I am as well aware of US gov propaganda as I am of other country's propaganda. Maybe more so because I see it every day. It's no secret that mass media is in bed with the federal government.

How hard would it be for the feds to say "you're not welcome in the press room anymore?" Oops, there goes that multi-national media company.

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it seems to be a specific US tradition to judge Asian countries. the US always failed on that.

Failed at what, pray tell?

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the Korean Kim will move before he is attacked. and if this is onyl to press the rest of the world. blackmail, as said.

I have no idea what you're trying to say there. He has no moves to make. He can prattle on about launching his nukes. Or he can launch them. Somehow I think he will opt for choice A.

Quote

BS
(remember America's misjudges on other Asian contries)

Care to tell me exactly what you're talking about?

Quote

only by knowing he can push the button, every country will be prepared to negotiate with him.

We've already established that. But do you think anyone would have anything to say if he actually pushed the little red button?

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[Tink1717 2]

Yeah, he IS that nuts. And he is that STUPID. Meanwhile Shurbya and company are asleep at the wheel AGAIN.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

It's no secret that mass media is in bed with the federal government.

this is simply feeding the mass. no matter where, in which country. it's always the same to keep the mass uninformed.

you're not welcome in the press room anymore?

Quote

this never will be said. no country will ever exclude him, if he wants to participate.

the US failed in judging nearly every Asian country. and if this was only in war attacks.

I have no idea what you're trying to say there. He has no moves to make.

Quote

he will be able to do moves. he will prattle, oh yeah. as he needs to do so. to keep his face. he's watching the other few nuclear armed forces in the word.

and the US will see nothing. do you think 300 million pairs of eyes see really what is happening? they only see what they might see.

did the US ever have an eye on China? nothing obvious to be seen, "things i do not see, do not happen"!

(remember America's misjudges on other Asian contries)***

think about Vietnam, oh no: at first Korea!
and now Irak, again a personal US Waterloo.

just saw latest news from Irak: it's a mess! i'v geot tears in my eyes watching the young soldiers doing their job. why to feed the canons with young Americans? what do Americans have to do in Irak? finally, there is no absolute proof about 09/11 !

this is off-topicnow, sorry!

but if you need to be heroes: go on to misjudge the Far East, misjudge the Middle East.

just to imagine my one and only son aged 20 to be sent over to a freak called Kim...just in case.... to prevent something to happen. to be sent to Irak to do what? bring back the dead bodies of his friends?

what TF do you have to do over there? everywhere?

why don't you clean your own country!

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Gawain 0]

Does anyone remember the not-so-well-covered press release about the US deploying several B-1B Lancers into the Pacific Theater?

I wonder what China has to say if Kim Chong-il were to act unilaterally. Chong-il would need to keep his eye on at least three general targets: ROK, Japan, and US forces in both countries and/or deployed in the region.

Chong-il has a habit of this type of bravado, and the only bad thing about it is that one of these times, he may be serious. We have been kinda lulled by the constant whines for attention...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[rickjump1 0]

China would love to see more US loss of life on their doorstep before we finally let go. It's loss of American influence that keeps us there. My dad flew wounded and dead out of Korea during the war, and he himself came home in a box from Korea(cold war aircraft accident later). He loved Koreans and we received Christmas greetings from the ROK Air Force for years.Whether we take this asshole Kim out or not,we need to get out. Let the Japs and Chinese stabilize this area. We have been there long enough.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[Chrisky 2]

While the whole iraq/wmd/UN discussion went on bwfore the war, NK built a new uranium enrichment plant and didn't allow the international atomic energy commision in to investigate. This plant enabled NK to build new a weapons. Back then, nobody really paid attention...
Now, that probably new nukes are ready, it seems to attract more...
Let's hope he's not that crazy...

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[RoadRash 0]

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do you really want to compare Korean to the Japanese psyche? a Japanes one will kill you instantly if you call him a Korean... this just aside. Koreans and Japanese are completely different.

Actually, you can compare the Japanese psyche and the Korean psyche and depending on whether or not you are talking about the Korean/Japanese citizens that were, and to some extent still are, ostracized by the very homogenous society in Japan, then I would not assume anything. I don't know what you mean by a "Japanes one," however I must say that a person of Japanese decent takes death very seriously and after studying their culture for 6 years, and having some close friends that were Japanese, then I can honestly say that you are wrong. And as an aside, the Japanese and Koreans are closer in mentality than most other Asian cultures. Now if you called a Japanese person Chinese, that is a different story...I would hope to be well versed in a martial art if I did something as dumb as that.


~R+R...Yet again, my $0.02 that isn't worth much more than that...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~...

[storm1977 0]

Good in theory Rick, but not realistic. Kim is making threats on the US, not really on China, and indirectly on Japan (Launching missiles overhead.

If the Admin just ignors these threats and Kim does something, then we will have to live through another commity like this 9/11 panel.... and we will have to hear more partisn BS on both sides on why something wasn't done about NK.

Chris

-----------------------------------------------------
Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty

[rickjump1 0]

Why not call his bluff to prevent another 9/11 before this country looses its will to fight? It's going fast. In addition to our young men and women, the big losers here are both Korean civil populations and the Japanese. Too bad this guy can't be taken out with one bullet. How far the Chinese will let him go, who knows.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[jdhill 0]

First, The US position in South Korea is not about South Korea at all... it is about keeping a buffer between North Korea and Janpan.

Second, Iraq is not about 9/11, never has been and never will be. It is about removing a destabilzing force in the region that is of economic importance to us... Did Saddam support OBL, probably not, did he support terrorists, absolutely. Just about every nutbag wannabe suicide bomber in Gaza or the WB knew Saddam's name, and about the money he offered for attacks on Israel.

Third, the US may, at times, mis-judge countries in Asia, but I do recall a fairly significant mis-judgment made by Japan in 1941.

Fourth, you stated that you have been living in Korea for some time, yet your profile says Gremany... which is it?

Oh, as I look at the clock, I see troll feeding time is over...

.

[billvon 3,116]

>Why not call his bluff to prevent another 9/11 before this country
>looses its will to fight?

What does that mean? Invade, and end up at war with China? Or just say "you're bluffing!" We could try that, but I have a feeling his reply would be along the lines of "Am not."

>Too bad this guy can't be taken out with one bullet.

Oh, he can be. Anyone can be. Let's just hope that he gets removed from power in a way that doesn't lead to another Korean War. We lost 54,000 americans in the last one, which makes Iraq look like a day in the park.

[christelsabine 1]

just a quick reply to your last question:
i'm from W-Germany, but grew up in Canada, later on living in the FE for many, many years.

was in Seoul for several months, in Hongkong several years, Singapore about 8 months, former PRC for about 5 months. Indonesia: about 3 months. locations changed due to biz.

and yes: Pearl Harbour... this is another movie.

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[MarkM 0]

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Or just say "you're bluffing!" We could try that, but I have a feeling his reply would be along the lines of "Am not."

Well duh, then we just say "Are too."

Course if he comes back with a "prove it", we might be in trouble. But such are the risks you take in international politics.

But did anyone else read the following quote The Stalinist state's official news agency accused Washington of "driving the military situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war" with plans for a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. as they were afraid we'd do a preemptive strike on them?

After all, does NK even have a missile delivery system that can reach the US?

[quade 4]

Mark, it doesn't have to be a missle.

A standard shipping container would work quite nicely.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver