"Troubling and counterproductive" rhetoric from North Korea is inflaming tensions on the Korean peninsula, but ultimately, "we will judge North Korea by its actions, not its words," the U.S. envoy to North Korea said Friday.
In its latest bout of saber-rattling, North Korea on Friday warned of the possibility of "strong physical counter-measures" against South Korea after the United Nations imposed tougher sanctions against the North earlier this week...
Is this more of the same from North Korea, or are they taking a more hardline turn under Kim Jong Un? What does have me worried a bit is that rocket they used to launch that satelite. Does it really have the range to hit CONUS? The South Koreans seem to think so after analysis on pieces of the debris..
PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 5106 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1063 times:
This is just another needle on the record......
But the difference this time, the Chinese government is seriously contemplating actions against North Korea, whom China is the closest ally of....not good news for N. Korea. But alas, a stupid regime only grows stupider
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2085 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1048 times:
Quoting caliatenza (Thread starter): s this more of the same from North Korea, or are they taking a more hardline turn under Kim Jong Un? What does have me worried a bit is that rocket they used to launch that satelite. Does it really have the range to hit CONUS? The South Koreans seem to think so after analysis on pieces of the debris..
1) I don't know why I think that perhaps this is not under Kim Jong Un's watch and that he just accepts what the military wants to do in order to keep a good standing in the eyes of the North Koreans. I'm calling this a bluff.
2) Apparently, their longest range missile can reach some parts of Alaska, which counts as continental US.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
planeguy727 From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1077 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 959 times:
My opinion is that the N Korean leadership needs to stay stuff like this from time to time as it's the only way for them to appear in the media outside of N Korea. I think it's an effort to appear relevant on the world stage. Otherwise I bet most would forget they even exist.
TupolevTu154 From UK - England, joined Aug 2004, 2127 posts, RR: 31 Reply 5, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 878 times:
They're all talk. Amusingly someone on a tour of a Korean war museum in Pyongyang allegedly asked a North Korean war veteran what they would do if the US attacked. His answer was "We will turn all their cities to lakes of fire".
On the other hand, I spoke to a few actual North Korean army soldiers when I was there. They asked where I was from, to which I replied the UK. They were very jovial and said they like us, followed by several hand shakes and a good pat on the back! A fellow Brit from my tour group asked to get a photograph with the soldiers and they accepted after a bribe. Another member of the group offered an equal bribe for a photo. "Where are you from?" They asked, "the US" was his reply, to which the soldiers immediately said no and walked off with stern looks on their faces.
That country suffers from a strong case of split-personality. I met some very friendly and accepting, intelligent and kind people in my time there. Genuine people with a personality aren't hard to find (contrary to the belief they're all brainwashed) and we even heard them make some jokes at their own expense! Things seem to be improving with the introduction of an international cell phone company there, and an announcement that tourists could keep their phones with them (as opposed to the current system of having them confiscated on arrival).
I appreciate all this isn't exactly relevant to the topic at hand, but it's a rare glimpse nonetheless.
PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 5106 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 844 times:
Heres the thing though.....if anyone- US, S Korea, Japan, or even China- makes any moves to invade N. Korea, we could be talking about disastrous amounts of casualties. I see N. Korea as stubborn as imperial Japan during the war. It's Spewing rhetoric, making preparations far beyond what they're actually capable of....
And also, if we attack, we may have to kiss good-bye to beautiful birds such as this:
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6351 posts, RR: 23 Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 703 times:
Quoting caliatenza (Reply 8): Interesting. The USA provides so much aid to those people and we are still not liked more than the Brits, that's really something.
Yeah, but we at least have full diplomatic relations, unlike the US, and clearly Jo North Korean Public is not likely to be told much about US aid.
✈ Every strike of the hammer is a blow against the enemy. ✈
pvjin From Finland, joined Mar 2012, 571 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 702 times:
Quoting caliatenza (Reply 8): Interesting. The USA provides so much aid to those people and we are still not liked more than the Brits, that's really something.
Well decades of anti-US propaganda and near complete isolation sure does have an effect like that.
Anyone who seriously beleves China when it criticises North Korea is deluded, China attacking that place is even more far fetched, they might attack the invading forces yes, I also dont think Russia would harm NK in any way, they just say things they're supposed to say for drama same as China, thanks to them the others are kept in their places.
Redd From Poland, joined Jan 2013, 68 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 673 times:
Quoting caliatenza (Reply 8): Interesting. The USA provides so much aid to those people and we are still not liked more than the Brits, that's really something.
Well you can't expect the population of N. Korea to know about any aid. They know about the Korean war, the million plus dead they blame on the 'evil' USA. The propaganda machine there is probably stronger than any Soviet era efforts since Stalin. It's the most isolated country on earth and you really can't blame public opinion on the people themselves, I don't think they have a choice in the way they think about western countries...
I'm planning a trip to N. Korea this year and I can't wait to experience that kind of isolation. There is no other place on earth where people are that disconnected from reality... At least from what I have read and seen so far.
caliatenza From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 1149 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 587 times:
Quoting Redd (Reply 12): Well you can't expect the population of N. Korea to know about any aid. They know about the Korean war, the million plus dead they blame on the 'evil' USA. The propaganda machine there is probably stronger than any Soviet era efforts since Stalin. It's the most isolated country on earth and you really can't blame public opinion on the people themselves, I don't think they have a choice in the way they think about western countries...
I thought the opinions were changing though..somewhat. I know things seemed better from the defector accounts that ive read recently in a couple of books and from the trip reports that ive seen on here and elsewhere on the net.
Quoting 777way (Reply 11): Anyone who seriously beleves China when it criticises North Korea is deluded, China attacking that place is even more far fetched, they might attack the invading forces yes, I also dont think Russia would harm NK in any way, they just say things they're supposed to say for drama same as China, thanks to them the others are kept in their places.
What i dont understand about China's position is that in the event of reunification, why would US troops be needed anymore? US troops would probably pack up and head home or at the very least there would be a token force left behind.
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