Morbid Rubbernecking: New Korean War?

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 06 May 2017 09:40

UlanBatori wrote:One way is a massive Chinese water-borne attack directly on South Korea.

With what - cargo ships? China has nowhere near enough amphibious capability to matter against SoKo\US, even assuming no resistance from air power.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 06 May 2017 13:08

seems that the Mongolians are still not over the reverse at Hakodate Bay and are very keen to reassert the will of the eternal blue heavens upon the miserable hermits before plucking the chrysanthemum...

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 06 May 2017 22:35

Gee! Talk about a waste of time. All this careful buildup - the runup to a major war captured in its entirety - and everything seems to have gone quiet. Not even a peep about the Carrier Group, the B-1s or the THAAD. Now all they have is that the CIA has been trying to put epsom salt in Diyar Leader's ice cream.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 May 2017 00:14

Trump says nobody is safe from North Korea 02:20

Washington (CNN)There is a quiet effort underway to tone down any military rhetoric that could lead to North Korea viewing the Pentagon as warmongering, several US military officials have told CNN.

At the same time, the Pentagon is trying to lower its public profile regarding Navy ship transits through the South China Sea, which have provoked Chinese ire, as part of an overall administration effort to improve relations with Beijing so that it pressures Pyongyang to curb its nuclear weapons program.
Trump has done a turnabout. He has now publicly complimented President Xi Jinping for trying to help with the North Korean crisis.
The review -- which has been completed and a tentative schedule of transits laid out -- has led to a crucial change in the public profile of the operations.
The Pentagon will no longer publicly discuss the missions on a routine basis, but instead once a year will merely publish a list of operations, officials said.
The effort is similar to the one toning down the rhetoric on North Korea, if for slightly different motivations.
With North Korea, several senior defense officials said there is now an effort to ensure as much public information as possible comes from commanders in South Korea and at the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, rather than from officials at the Pentagon in Washington to lessen its reach and perceived importance.

UBCN translation: Waiting for the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Someone is going to die violently any day now

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 07 May 2017 15:47

well now that comey has his FISA warrants it may be too late to start a war, (if we are lucky)

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 May 2017 17:22

We would rather have North Korea develop hydrogen bomb - equipped missiles and pass them on to Pakistan? (as long as we feel happy about who is POTUS)

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 07 May 2017 18:38

China was always the one supplying nukes and missiles to Pakistan, and NoKo was the facade whom the "international community" contrived to blame (just as they blamed the fictional, non-state "AQ Khan Network" on the Paki end).

Under Trump, US-China relations have already become friendlier and more accommodating of China's claims of supremacy in Asia than under any POTUS since WJC.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 07 May 2017 20:19

UlanBatori wrote:We would rather have North Korea develop hydrogen bomb - equipped missiles and pass them on to Pakistan? (as long as we feel happy about who is POTUS)

i don't need to repeat what rudradev has said about proliferation. however what bothers me is that i don't want a nuclear war to break out because someone has a tricky 'political' situation on their hands and needs a distraction - that could easily spill out of control

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 May 2017 21:45

Isn't it better to establish and enforce a red line on proliferation and nuclear war with a NoKo-US spat than between someone who will actually exchange presents between cities? Not much danger of NoKo nuking anyone right now, but with the level of stability there, would you want to be living in Japan in a couple of years? As for the absolute correlation to the progress of FBI/CIA/Senate/House investigations that you are privy to, well... are those going to get any worse or better in 2 years according to your crystal ball?

If India had blasted Paki facilities in 1990 and declared an absolute red line maybe Pakistan would have been history by now and a lot of subsequent violence avoided elsewhere, say in Afghanistan. A country's deterrent capability to keep the peace depends on what they do when red lines are crossed: do they show the willingness to risk it all (mild risk) or retreat towards a much worse choice later? I think US history says (a). So does China's come to think of it, which is a problem. India waits for (b). Russians are paying now for choosing (b) in 1990.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 May 2017 22:31

Football commentary, US-NoKo

fB comment on Another American Detailed in NoKo
1.

OK, here is the thing...They are a Communist Country, they hate Americans, they arrest Americans on trumped up charges all the time! Acedemics are supposed to be smart! Don't like the idea of being jailed under the threat of death or forced labor camps? Don't go to North Korea! Really, it isn't rocket science! Keep your ass home and call the US Goverenment names like every other dumb ass College Professor in America!!

2.

I don't even know why they publish these kind of stories. If you are an American citizen, you have no business even being in North Korea. And I certainly don't need to read about how stupid you were to be in a country whose dictator especially hates Americans. It's about as stupid a move as me trying to go to a KKK rally and thinking, "They won't have a problem with that."

3.

Dave Neenjaa If you aren't neutral going in you risk issues...the guy advertised on his website and only hired Christian staff......you can't treat NK like a "Missions trip to Mexico to mend fences"

4.

I realize this is politically incorrect but thank you for detaining American citizens who are stupid enough to go to North Korea. I might have to encounter one of these morons here. There are four idiots I will not have to deal with in my daily life. They seem to believe they are going to spread their faith in a country whose leader executed his uncle with anti-aircraft artillery. Rant over!

Apparently at least 2 are employees of a "Christian University". So was one who decided to cross into NoKo across China land border w/o documents a while back. So apparently there IS some good in the NoKo government: they are giving these people 10 years of "service to humanity". NOW I know know who makes those nice broad streets in NoKo.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 May 2017 14:15

Vot iz 'appening? All Qwiet on zer eastern Front vot?" Vot 'as 'appened to zer armada of zer Donald Duck? And vy is zer Yung Un not farting radioactively?
Plizz,I vont a refund!

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 08 May 2017 17:57

N. Korea detains covert Christian evangelicals (including those of Korean origin) as US agents:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/05/07 ... -acts.html

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 08 May 2017 19:25

Philip wrote:Vot iz 'appening? All Qwiet on zer eastern Front vot?" Vot 'as 'appened to zer armada of zer Donald Duck? And vy is zer Yung Un not farting radioactively?
Plizz,I vont a refund!

The Duck has been partly successful in wagging the dog with his three pronged action (Syria, Afghanistan,NoKo), at least for the time being.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 08 May 2017 23:22

South Korea Mooning US and kissing NoKo

RKumar · Post by **RKumar** » 08 May 2017 23:42

yawn ... still talking, nothing interesting happening. Getting boring to read this thread.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 May 2017 01:32

And u r not alone!

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 May 2017 06:52

There is still hope of massive entertainment: Trouble is that these british types are desperate hoping that the US is destroyed.
I think at some point the Zee will decide he's had enough and set out to humiliate Dear Leader. I don't think infinite patience is one of his known virtues.

North Korea vows to instigate 'POWERFUL STRIKES' to 'DESTROY' Trump's CIA & South Korea The hermit kingdom claimed the attempted assassination of Kim was due to take place on the Day of the Sun, which commemorates the birth of North Korea’s founder, Ki Il-Sung.
During the parade, North Korea said the two countries were going to use “biochemical substances” to exterminate him.
North Korean officials went on to accuse the CIA of bribing a North Korean citizen with £32,000 ($40,000) to carry out the assassination. Ri Byong Ho, the head of North Korean intelligence described the suspect as a “very important person” and that “there have already been more than 80 planned terrorist attacks” which have been foiled, the newspaper added. North Korea’s determination to retaliate against the US and South Korea comes after the US House of Representatives introduced the “North Korea Intelligence Enhancement Act”.

Why is it called "hermit kingdom" I wonder.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 May 2017 07:04

Meanwhile per british newspaper, China has threatened to bomb NoKo.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 May 2017 17:37

PeeAllSee take over SoKo in bloodless coup. SoKo Moons US.
South Korean voters have overwhelmingly chosen the liberal candidate Moon Jae-in as their next president, an exit poll suggests.
It put Mr Moon on 41.4%, with his nearest challenger, conservative Hong Joon-Pyo, on 23.3%.
Mr Moon favours greater dialogue with North Korea, in a change to current South Korean policy.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 May 2017 20:29

"Stumpy" as a dear pal of mine calls him,must be over the "Moon",pardon the pun,with the new leader of SoKo a bleedin' 'eart liberal,who wants to kiss Dear Leader Marshal Un's prodigious nether end! This ain't going to to please the posterior of the occupant of the Oval Office...oops! Sorry,Trump Tower!

As for the UK media and the threat from China about bombing NoKo, Marshal Un could in return send a nuke up XI Gins' bung hole in Beijing! Why would Beijing attack its "right hand" ally (Pak being its left hand ally,used for wiping one's ars*!) ? Perhaps Xi Gins has had too many Gimlets or has had too much of a touch of the Sun...Tzu and has forgotten the "Great Helmsman's " wise words,"my enemy's enemy is my friend"

The "Duck",Donald by name could still swing a punch at marshal Dear leader Un,just to complicate the arrival of the man in the Moon. Who knows,his "punch" might land on NoKo on the night of the full Moon this month,otherwise known as Vesak/Buddha Purnima celebrating the birth,enlightenment and death of the Blessed One,the man of peace.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 25936.html
Moon Jae-in wins South Korea presidential election by landslide, exit polls suggest
Projected win for Moon ends decade of conservative rule in South Korea and could mark sharp change in policy towards North Korea

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 09 May 2017 22:32

https://www.rt.com/news/387761-china-new-missile-test/
China tests new missile near Korean peninsula

Beijing has tested a new missile close to the Korean peninsula amid heightened tensions in the region, after North Korea, South Korea, and the US recently conducted military drills in the area.The Chinese military carried out the test in the busy northeastern Bohai Sea close to the Korean peninsula “in recent days,” Chinese Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from China’s Defense Ministry.The operation was designed to “enhance the combat skills of the forces” to safeguard national security, the brief statement said.“The test achieved the expected result,” it added, without disclosing the exact date of the launch or any further details.Beijing announced last month that it would continue to stage live fire drills and test new weapons to address national security threats, as a response to the US’ recent controversial deployment of its THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea.Opposing the long-disputed deployment of the system, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that a peaceful solution to the Korean crisis was the “only right choice.” In order to de-escalate tensions surrounding the Korean peninsula, Beijing has come up with an initiative to call on North Korea to refrain from carrying out further missile and nuclear tests in exchange for the US and South Korea suspending their military exercises in the region.This proposal is supported by Russia, which has urged Washington and Seoul to reconsider their decision to station THAAD on the peninsula, saying it serves as a “destabilizing factor” that undermines the security and deterrent capacity of adjacent states, such as China, and could tip the existing military balance in the tense region.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 May 2017 02:43

Wonder what happens if the Chinese Missile Test Of Readiness coincides with the American THAAD System Test Of Readiness.

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 10 May 2017 02:53

New President-elect Moon Jae-In is:
1. Son of N. Korean refugees
2. Roman Catholic - strong enough to publicly condemn LGBT (though he later softened under flak)

Also, per Wiki

Moon has favored a peaceful reunification between the two Koreas. {A position not popular with the powerful Protestant Evangelical lobby} He was widely criticized and praised for his comments stating that his first visit if elected president would be to visit North Korea, a visit that would be not unlike Roh Moo Hyun's visit to the country in 2007. Similarly, Moon's foreign policy towards North Korea is considered to closely align with the Sunshine Policy embraced by former liberal presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.[6]

He has stated he considered himself as "America's friend" for its role in helping South Korea avoid communism while helping its economic growth.[15] At the same time, his more liberal foreign policy is reflected on record, stating in a book, “I’m pro-U.S., but now South Korea should adopt diplomacy in which it can discuss a U.S. request and say no to the Americans.”[16] He opposes a rebalance of the security alliance with the United States, but at the same time stated he would like South Korea "to be able to take the lead on matters on the Korean Peninsula

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 10 May 2017 04:52

End of 2015, this article in al-Guardian speculated on Korean Reunification and says:

“If it is coming at all, it is coming the German way, but it is going to be much more violent, much more bloody, much more hectic than everything we have seen in Europe,” said Lankov, who predicted that North Korea’s elites would fight for their lives if faced with a popular uprising.

“I would say it will be a cross between the Syrian crisis and the East German crisis of 1989/90. If it doesn’t sound good it is because it isn’t good. It is going to be a very bloody mess” he said, adding that both China and the US would be sucked in.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 May 2017 10:16

i believe china engineered the latest crisis in consultation with kim to influence the Soko election, scare the people and get a gandhian in charge than a trumpian. mission accomplished. under this new leader soko will back away from escalating with noko. trump has also ceded the job of 'managing' noko to Xi...who has been managing the circus all along.

pissfull n-tests can now resume as scheduled.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 10 May 2017 11:31

Trump opens fire!......At the FBI Director instead!

The Nixon era redux. Will Trump bomb NoKo like Nixon bombed Cambodia?

https://www.theguardian.com/international
James Comey fired: calls for special prosecutor after Trump sacks FBI director – live updates

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 May 2017 20:22

Finally American has achieved what it always wanted. A CEO who runs it exactly like a corporate jerk.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 11 May 2017 11:48

Stumpy would launch his N-Dongs if he felt hi rule was threatened,says fomer NoKo propaganda artist..

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 28461.html

Kim Jong-un would launch a nuclear attack if his rule was threatened, says North Korean defector
'He would wage nuclear war even if he knew it would mean finishing himself and harming the North Korean people,' says former state propaganda artist

Maya Oppenheim, Helen Hoddinott

Mr Song, who lost all of his family members in the famine which struck North Korea in the 1990’s, predicts North Korea’s regime will fall

Putin tells Red Square: No one can defeat our military
A North Korean defector has argued the country’s leader Kim Jong-un would launch a nuclear attack if his rule was threatened.

Song Byeok, a former state propaganda artist, said the supreme leader would issue an attack even if it were to result in the destruction of himself and his country.

The political refugee, who now lives in South Korea where he critiques the regime through dissident artwork, said he hoped US President Donald Trump would find a way to remove Mr Kim from ruling the one-party state.

“I think Kim Jong-un could wage nuclear war if his power is threatened and that is why he needs to be removed as soon as possible,” the 48-year-old told The Independent in a wide-ranging interview.

“He would wage nuclear war even if he knew it would mean finishing himself and harming the North Korean people because he is young and ambitious and doesn’t care about the lives of North Koreans. He also doesn’t know anything about their lives.”

Although there is significant doubt around whether North Korea has the technological capacity to launch a direct attack on America, experts warn they are getting closer and are still able to target Seoul or Tokyo.

Mr Song, who escaped the “hermit kingdom” in 2002, said he was not concerned about mounting tensions between the US President and the North Korean leader and was happy to see Mr Trump taking a tough stance on the regime.

“I do not worry about the relationship between Trump and Kim Jong-un. I really hope that Trump will remove Kim Jong-un - that is the only way that North Korean people can be free and happy.
“In April I was demonstrating in front of the White House holding a picture of Kim Jong-un calling on Trump to remove him.”

But Mr Song was not wholly positive about the US President, saying: “I think Trump and Kim Jong-un are similar types of people.”

Hostility between the President and Mr Kim has come to a head in recent weeks. The Trump administration has warned the Obama-era policy of “strategic patience” with North Korea is over and Mr Trump has adopted an increasingly tough tone.

Pledging to “properly deal” with Pyongyang and solve the problem “with or without” China’s help, the President has raised alarm bells over a pre-emptive strike that could potentially elicit a nuclear response. At the end of April, he said he would like to resolve the situation peacefully but warned that a “major, major conflict” with North Korea is “absolutely possible”.

READ MORE
North Korea 'detains US citizen' as tensions mount in region
The response from North Korea has been equally aggressive, with Pyongyang threatening a “merciless response” to any US provocation. At the end of last month, Mr Kim’s government threatened to sink a US nuclear submarine that had been deployed to South Korean waters.

Mr Song, who lost all of his family members in the famine which struck North Korea in the 1990’s, predicted that North Korea’s regime would fall, claiming that increasing numbers of people are starting to doubt Mr Kim’s grip on power.

“Kim Jong-un is the third generation and even North Korean people are gaining access to foreign media, so they know what is going on, so they probably pretend to be loyal in front of him, but inside they don’t agree,” he concluded.

He argued the wealth of an emerging class of elite North Koreans was ceasing to trickle down into the pockets of the masses. While the majority of North Korea’s 25 million citizens endure starvation due to struggles with food production, there is a burgeoning demographic of elite North Koreans.

Living in what has been termed “Pyonghattan”, the upper echelons of society, who tend to hold official government positions, adopt a highly different lifestyle to the rest of country. While others struggle to subsist, they spend money on designer clothes, eating in fancy restaurants and enjoying a range of new amusements Mr Kim has built for them.

“The North Korean government builds these things [the water park in Pyongyang and other luxury developments] just for show. It’s just one per cent of the population using that kind of facilities.”

But life remains stark for the overwhelming majority of citizens living under a regime a UN report accused of crimes against humanity, including systematic extermination, torture, rape, forced abortions and starvation.

kapilrdave · Post by **kapilrdave** » 11 May 2017 12:35

The picture is unclear at least for me regarding with whom Moon's loyalties are. Is he with US? Or China? Or Both? or none?

So far the only clarity is that he is against the war.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 11 May 2017 14:26

Will the Donald "wag the dog"? Remember that great flic starring De Niro and Dustin Hoffman,where the US pres goes to war with Albania to change the subject at home. The Duck is in the throes of the alleged Russian hacking/intervention in the US pres. election and his firing the FBI chief,whom everyone hates,has drawn a parallel with the days of Tricky Dick Nixon and the Watergate coverup.Shrillary and co delirious with joy,hoping for a TKO of the Donald's presidency. Talk of a Special prosecutor abounds. The situ in NoKo is ideal for McDuck to leverage,against a loony whom everyone despises,who allegedly poisoned his own brother at a Malaysian airport,and who is breathing fire,thunder and is threatening the unleashing his "ding-dongs" indiscriminately.
Don't tear up your tkts or ask for a refund as yet. Ample scope for sh*t to hit the fan.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 11 May 2017 16:50

Is he with US? Or China? Or Both? or none?

Maybe with South Korea? As UBCNews pointed out b4, China and even Chinese military are much better-regarded in SoKo than US/US military are. It's one of those things that are not evident from US narratives on the topic or from watching M*A*S*H, but even in English-language media in SoKo, from my vast experience of going through the airport..(+ a few other things), the fact is evident if one looks carefully.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 11 May 2017 16:58

IMO best strategy for YooEss is to announce Strongest Support and Endorsement of Korean Reunification and bring a C-17 full of Marines to land at Incheon airport to great fanfare. I still remember the photo of US Marines Arrive In South Vietnam, showing these very smart-looking, muscular Marines marching in perfect order. Unlike most armies goose-stepping etc, these guys had rolled-up sleeves that showed off their muscular forearms. Deeply impressive. For years thereafter I tried to learn to imitate that style.

This will be taken as a declaration to invade NoKo, and trigger some stupidity on the part of Dear Leader, which should be excuse enough to end his regime, and actually help Korea re-unite.

VishalJ · Post by **VishalJ** » 11 May 2017 17:08

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 11 May 2017 23:48

SoKo Moons US and GUBOs PeeAllSee

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 May 2017 07:27

So if you observe what just happened....

NoKo said

to US
US threatened NoKo with carrier group that was already irritating China, + B-1 nuclear bombers.
US threatened China with THAAD on Lotte property in SoKo.
China scrapped a couple of deals involving Lotte.
China won SoKo elections
So now China has taken over SoKo.
US carrier group and airplanes ordered to stay clear of Chinese protected zone.

Total victory for China.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 May 2017 12:18

many south koreans are very disillusioned with the state of their state - all work and no reward... so whats so worse about the north? its not surprising that they focus some of their blame on the US

it looks like the great businessman got outplayed by the great chairman

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 12 May 2017 12:33

Lalmohan wrote:many south koreans are very disillusioned with the state of their state - all work and no reward... so whats so worse about the north? its not surprising that they focus some of their blame on the US

Yet, there are no SoKos lining up to defect to the North, unlike the Northerners who continue to arrive South despite stringent anti-defector measures.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 May 2017 13:46

of course not, they know that they have it better than the north, but they are disillusioned with the state never the less
they mostly believe they have worked hard for their prosperity but only the elites seem to have actually benefitted... (sound familiar?)

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 12 May 2017 14:55

For goose stepping,you can't beat NoKo.They march 100% The Russians at the Victory Day parade n Red Square were also magnificent,esp. the women marchers.Not just the perfection but the smiles and head tilted just at the right angle! Drool,drool,drool.I felt like Garfield lusting after lasagne just watching them on telly.The outfits of the marching troops the most colourful. These two nations are v.hard to beat.By comparison,the Chinese look wooden and like stupid clockwork zombies. NoKo troops imbued with devotion to their great Marshal,Kim.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 May 2017 19:35

Dear Leader writes to Dear Bonzos