North Korea

[russycarps]

I doubt even the North Koreans know if they want to live there but the point is they DONT HAVE THE CHOICE. What are you, some anti USA hippy? Pretty much the entire world is against them and what they are doing, even the Chinese are easing off. So on you go, keep ranting about the US as though it is only them.

Anyway your jumping the gun a bit, I've not seen anywhere in this thread or the news supporting an American invasion. Indeed it hasn't even been mentioned...apart from you

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

...North Korea, much like the rest of the Communist world, could open it's doors up and slacken their grip on its people, society, culture etc and again, like the rest of the communist world, accept the investment. They could reap vast rewards, their people could live freely and they could become part of the world community.

Maybe that's not an option, they clearly are doing sooooo well.

[Big Vern]

They didnt seem to mind the billion or so in assistance theyve received from the US over the last 15 years or more. Theyre the ones talking about pre-emptive strikes, not the US.

[grumpyhack]

Like most things in this world, to make sense of things follow the money. Who stands to gain what financially helps unravel lots. Not always but it's a good start.

[fred quimby]

Can anyone explain to me why america conducts these wargames in the region every year? Because it seems to me America is many many miles away. Why are they there in such vast numbers?

What do you think north koreas goals are? Do you think they want an empire? Do you think they want to invade and occupy japan and america?

[the_hedge]

He's just posturing to show people who's in charge. Young man with a lot of power showing the country that he's a strong leader.

He will quieten down soon enough.

[russycarps]

Exactly, war games all the time, rightly or wrongly.

So this isn't resistance against the nasty USA. This is Baby Face just flexing his muscle as he is new to the job. To show the people he is strong, to distract from economic problems and to cling to his power. This is a very good way of doing that.

It's just stupid Men playing power games.

And as for your last point, well just maybe. probably feels he should be leader of the world. He has been told he is a God and he believes that so yeah I'm sure he does believe he could rule the world.

and for your early question, I'm sure from reports I have read that the people don't want to be in the position they are.

Edited April 10, 2013 by russycarps

[fred quimby]

economic problems brought about by years and years of american imposed sanctions, brought about because north korea refuses to bow to america.

He has to flex his nuclear muscles to prevent america forcing a regime change like they did in iraq and afghanistan and all the rest. The only reason north korea has nuclear weapons is because of america massing troops and military hardware in the region. He believes, with very good reason, that america would like to invade north korea and remove him from power.

Why does north korea not have the right to defend itself from foreign invasion?

Does he think he is a God? Or is that the western media trying to ridicule and demonise him? I dont know, and nor do you I'd wager.

You read from reports that his people dont want to be in the position they are? What reports? You think the north koreans want to be invaded and occupied by america? You think they look enviously towards iraq?

Or do you think they just want to be left alone, and be allowed to trade with the rest of the world like a normal country?

[kaosmark2]

economic problems brought about by years and years of american imposed sanctions, brought about because north korea refuses to bow to america.

He has to flex his nuclear muscles to prevent america forcing a regime change like they did in iraq and afghanistan and all the rest. The only reason north korea has nuclear weapons is because of america massing troops and military hardware in the region. He believes, with very good reason, that america would like to invade north korea and remove him from power.

Why does north korea not have the right to defend itself from foreign invasion?

Does he think he is a God? Or is that the western media trying to ridicule and demonise him? I dont know, and nor do you I'd wager.

You read from reports that his people dont want to be in the position they are? What reports? You think the north koreans want to be invaded and occupied by america? You think they look enviously towards iraq?

Or do you think they just want to be left alone, and be allowed to trade with the rest of the world like a normal country?

[russycarps]

of course america arent going to invade, because north korea have nuclear weapons! America want them to get rid of the nukes, but the only reason they have them in the first place is because of america! It's an absurd situation.

maybe the north korean regime is as bad as the americans want us to believe, or maybe not. Remember the americans tried for years to convince the world that Cubans were an oppressed people under castros regime.

I dont know what is right and what is wrong here, but I would never ever believe everything I am told by the american led western media.

Surely the events of the last decade have taught us that??

[Uncle Liam]

Reality check here folks

1) North Korea is going to war with nobody. It's pure political posturing probably designed to extract more aid out of the west. This happens at least every two years and the outcome is always the same.

2) North Korea is run as a totalitarian pseudo Communist state designed to solely benefit it's rulers. Anyone who is even suspected of going against the regime is, along with their family, carted off to to a gulag for re education.

3) China and South Korea are both not going to stand for regime change/collapse in North Korea. Defectors out of North Korea routinely suffer from severe psychological problems because of the failure to adjust from Communist brainwashing to the mad intensity of Capitalism. The South has no real political appetite for reunification and neither wants floods of refugees from the north coming in.

4) If the US wanted to invade North Korea- which it could do at anytime and win very quickly- China wouldn't stand for it for reasons I have just posted. There is also FAR too much money at stake for a major political fall out between China and the US. Hence why, as someone pointed out above, the North Koreans sunk a South Korean ship and got away with it!

5) North Korea's economic problems have been brought on entirely by themselves. It is estimated that 25% of GDP is directed towards the military. Outside of Pyongyang, there is desperate poverty, with farmers still using equipment and techniques from 100 years ago. It cannot feed it's people, and has been dependant on western aid now for more than twenty years.

[russycarps]

Reality check here folks

1) North Korea is going to war with nobody. It's pure political posturing probably designed to extract more aid out of the west. This happens at least every two years and the outcome is always the same.

2) North Korea is run as a totalitarian pseudo Communist state designed to solely benefit it's rulers. Anyone who is even suspected of going against the regime is, along with their family, carted off to to a gulag for re education.

3) China and South Korea are both not going to stand for regime change/collapse in North Korea. Defectors out of North Korea routinely suffer from severe psychological problems because of the failure to adjust from Communist brainwashing to the mad intensity of Capitalism. The South has no real political appetite for reunification and neither wants floods of refugees from the north coming in.

4) If the US wanted to invade North Korea- which it could do at anytime and win very quickly- China wouldn't stand for it for reasons I have just posted. There is also FAR too much money at stake for a major political fall out between China and the US. Hence why, as someone pointed out above, the North Koreans sunk a South Korean ship and got away with it!

5) North Korea's economic problems have been brought on entirely by themselves. It is estimated that 25% of GDP is directed towards the military. Outside of Pyongyang, there is desperate poverty, with farmers still using equipment and techniques from 100 years ago. It cannot feed it's people, and has been dependant on western aid now for more than twenty years.

Edited April 10, 2013 by russycarps

[Uncle Liam]

Masters Degree in Politics with this as my Dissertation

[Rufus Gwertigan]

What do you expect them to do while the worlds must powerful army deploys missiles and troops on their border?

America is the aggressor here, not the north.

[russycarps]

Masters Degree in Politics with this as my Dissertation

[russycarps]

To be fair the US military presence is negligible compared to the ROK

[Uncle Liam]

so you've been there? how many north koreans did you interview?

[hot_ice]

so you've been there? how many north koreans did you interview?

[russycarps]

I have never been to north korea, and have never pretended I have.

I'm not making any claims about the place, apart from that they are reacting against american military aggression. Is anyone disputing this?

I dont know if it's a ghastly place or a utopia.

I dont know if the whole population hate the regime or adore it.

None of us do, which is exactly why I am not blindly supporting america in all this.

No one has actually explained why the american military is on their border anyway? How can this be acceptable to anyone?

What countries has north korea ever invaded?

How can anyone support yet another american intervention in another countries business after iraq etc?

And as for people ridiculing his appearance, have you any idea how ridiculous you sound? Also, you might want to have a look at chinless, chubby david cameron sometime.

When I look at north korea I see a country that is no threat to anyone, that has the worlds most powerful military on its borders and in its waters, the military of a country who has a long history of illegally invading foreign countries.

I cant believe I'm the only person who thinks america is the aggressor here

[fred quimby]

I prefer to keep an open mind rather than believing possibly biased reports.

[Kyelo]

Russy go have a w*nk!

Interesting little read here...

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/10/china_losing_patience_with_north_korean_antics.html

It is written by a Chinese Dr who works at Peking University who is an expert in Chinese security and contemporary world affairs.

The closing line of the article sums up North Koreas idiocy in isolating itself

"If Kim’s bombast and nuclear threats lead to China-U.S. bonding over a joint North Korea settlement, the entire world will be the safer for it."

[Rufus Gwertigan]

in terms of troops maybe, but the nukes are all american owned

[Kyelo]

I have never been to north korea, and have never pretended I have.

I'm not making any claims about the place, apart from that they are reacting against american military aggression. Is anyone disputing this?

I dont know if it's a ghastly place or a utopia.

I dont know if the whole population hate the regime or adore it.

None of us do, which is exactly why I am not blindly supporting america in all this.

No one has actually explained why the american military is on their border anyway? How can this be acceptable to anyone?

What countries has north korea ever invaded?

How can anyone support yet another american intervention in another countries business after iraq etc?

And as for people ridiculing his appearance, have you any idea how ridiculous you sound? Also, you might want to have a look at chinless, chubby david cameron sometime.

When I look at north korea I see a country that is no threat to anyone, that has the worlds most powerful military on its borders and in its waters, the military of a country who has a long history of illegally invading foreign countries.

I cant believe I'm the only person who thinks america is the aggressor here

Edited April 10, 2013 by Kyelo

[russycarps]

Russy go have a w*nk!

Interesting little read here...

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/10/china_losing_patience_with_north_korean_antics.html

It is written by a Chinese Dr who works at Peking University who is an expert in Chinese security and contemporary world affairs.

The closing line of the article sums up North Koreas idiocy in isolating itself

"If Kim’s bombast and nuclear threats lead to China-U.S. bonding over a joint North Korea settlement, the entire world will be the safer for it."

[Kyelo]

The Star?

Yes

They have said they will retaliate if they are attacked.

They have said they will fire missiles if they are about to be attacked.

American wargames on their borders and in their waters have prompted this.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Kyelo