With the questionable sanity of North Korea's leader, I can see almost anything escalating into a full scale war.
Wife snores--War. Girlfriend snores--War. Lost finale sucks--War. Bad hair day--well War would have started decades ago.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Interesting. One of my students for a while was a diplomat working for the Korean reunification ministry, which does work related to North Korea, like taking in refugees and seeking ways of passing information back and forth across the border. He was quite confident that North Korea would fall in a matter of years- he said it was possible in less than 5, but said one can't be sure. His ministry is preparing for the day under the assumption that this will happen, and that when it does South Korea will be responsible (with US aid) for setting up an interim government to continue public services. There are apparently already people briefed, trained and ready to step in and create a government in North Korea in a matter of weeks if necessary.
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
I still enjoyed the headlines over this. The international community presents viable evidence proving that the DPRK sunk the south korean vessel. north korea's response: OH, ANGLING FOR WAR, ARE YOUUUU?
Oh.
And also.
The odds are very good that Kim Jong Il has actually been dead for a long time.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Didn't Clinton meet with him when he was negotiating for the release of that journalist that was imprisoned and forced to confess that she was working for the downfall of the Korean government?
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I don't think the odds are very good he's dead. He's done things for which there would have been a leak (the China trip) if he wasn't actually seen too recently.
Much, much sicker than has been told, yes. Dead, not likely.
Also, there really will be a power vacuum at the top when he dies, unless he can get his son ready in time. But if he doesn't, there are good odds of some very noticeable disruption in the NK government.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
His son afaik is already occupying the needed positions to make the transition quick. Also an interesting fella if I say so.
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
I live in Korea, and it's election season. My Korean friends tell me that during every federal election season, the incumbents make noise about North Korea.
This situation is different, of course, the Cheonan was blown up by the North. Usually I'm pretty blase about these things, and my Korean friends continue to be blase, but I'm honestly a little worried. I'm less than 2 hours from the border, and if a war starts, tanks will be rolling past my window before I even know what is going on.
I should emphasize the shoulder shrugging reaction the Koreans have, though. They expect nothing to come of this.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
Foust, I'd imagine that it would be less the tanks and more the barrage of conventional missiles that you'd see first if war broke out between the North and the South. My impression (though admittedly it's been a few years since I've studied the issue) was that N. Korea was bristling with conventional missiles, and that in the event of war their first act would likely be to use them to pulverize Seoul and as far down into South Korea as they could reach.
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
Personally I think two of you are right--Kim Jung Il has been dead for a while, and that he is running the country.
It is my belief that under threat of torture and death, WMD scientists in North Korea created the Zombie virus. As we speak the leadership of North Korea are actually Zombies, and are looking at all the delicious brains in South Korea as a replenish-able and satisfying source of food.
China, in its attempt to maintain peace, and keep the middle-kingdom Zombie free, have been shipping them weekly supplies of protesters and Tibetans, but you know how it is with Chinese food--eat till your full and then an hour later you want more.
Break out the shot guns and chainsaw folks, we have the beginnings of the Zombie wars. How long until their pitiful undead reach middle America?
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
I'm aware of that, Jake - my friends and I use tanks in the street as an image because it seems so much more communist. Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
quote:Originally posted by Foust: I'm aware of that, Jake - my friends and I use tanks in the street as an image because it seems so much more communist.
:: laugh ::
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
quote:Originally posted by Darth_Mauve: Personally I think two of you are right--Kim Jung Il has been dead for a while, and that he is running the country.
It is my belief that under threat of torture and death, WMD scientists in North Korea created the Zombie virus. As we speak the leadership of North Korea are actually Zombies, and are looking at all the delicious brains in South Korea as a replenish-able and satisfying source of food.
China, in its attempt to maintain peace, and keep the middle-kingdom Zombie free, have been shipping them weekly supplies of protesters and Tibetans, but you know how it is with Chinese food--eat till your full and then an hour later you want more.
Break out the shot guns and chainsaw folks, we have the beginnings of the Zombie wars. How long until their pitiful undead reach middle America?