North Korea

[spooky]

Oh no you di'int!

North Korea has a pride problem. If you listened to Fresh Air for 05-19-2010, covering the Ling sisters recount of Laura getting captured in North Korea and how the captors "negotiated" President Clinton's involvement, it seems apparent.

Then there is the supposed retaliation torpedo sinking of a South Korean Navy ship, Cheonan, over some previous conflict in contested waters. Pyongyang has rejected the claim as a "fabrication" and threatened war if sanctions were imposed. "Clearly this was a serious provocation by North Korea and there will definitely be consequences," said US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that "North Korea must understand that belligerence towards its neighbors and defiance of the international community are signs of weakness, not strength."

What is going to happen, what should happen? How involved will America be, and how much will it cost?

[John Galt]

Right now, the US spends more to defend South Korea than South Korea spends to defend itself. If we have any involvement on the Korean peninsula it should be better proportioned and serving a clear national interest.

[stabbyhappy]

We take illegal immigrants from AZ, put them on planes and air drop them into North Korea with some homemade blankets, hammocks, Tequila and mustaches. Next, we sit back and watch NK turn into lazy capitalists that occasionally fuck wild animals for money. We tax the shit out of overpaid actors to pay for it. Eventually the actors get pissed and start embracing Democracy again. Three birds, one stone.

[spooky]

It sort of makes me sad that so many people are so interested in Picasso and getting Obama elected and so completely disinterested in where America's next multi trillion dollar war expense may wind up.

[rylake]

Originally Posted by spooky

It sort of makes me sad that so many people are so interested in Picasso and getting Obama elected and so completely disinterested in where America's next multi trillion dollar war expense may wind up.

People always have trouble seeing past their backyard. Even if they can, the only way to make them think is by explaining that it will cost them money. Then they sort of care.

Truthfully, North Korea is not a big threat. They don't have the technology or resources to wage a war very far from their own land. They have no chance against the angry world police. Plus, with Iraq being phased out, the US will have to find something to do with the trillions of dollars they are pouring into the machine.

[SSG]

Originally Posted by stabbyhappy

We take illegal immigrants from AZ, put them on planes and air drop them into North Korea with some homemade blankets, hammocks, Tequila and mustaches. Next, we sit back and watch NK turn into lazy capitalists that occasionally fuck wild animals for money. We tax the shit out of overpaid actors to pay for it. Eventually the actors get pissed and start embracing Democracy again. Three birds, one stone.

You're a fucking genius. Let's make it happen!

[John Galt]

The time to avoid entangling alliances is when they do seem like a good idea.

Pajamas Media » Obama, the Sinking of the Cheonan, and the Failure of Nuclear Deterrence

I'm liking the tequila mafia idea.

[big bad bold]

NK is intent on suicide by cop. South Korea does not want a war, that would screw up their economy. China does not want a war, that would screw up their economy too. The U.S. is kinda too busy to fight a war right now. North Korea has nothing to lose. They seem to have the attitude like they just don't give a fuck. They not a rational actor and that makes them very dangerous.

[thepetek]

Oddly enough I was reading about NK tonight. Haven't heard the Lings interview yet, though it's in the queue.

There is the theory that this is a show of force to legitimatize the next leader. (Son....uh..3 instead of 1, I think.) And once he's established, this shit will calm down.

The whole idea of killing 43 people instead of voting is kinda lame so a solution is...

Honestly, convince China that a unified Korea would be smooth, easy and in their best interest, oh, and South Korea, too (do not look at ze Chermany, bitte)

NK is China's 'Mexico' or potential Mexico.

Frankly, we need our Mexico (that is, actual Mexico) to get nuclear weapons and hate China. Then we could do that whole Strangers on a Train "Criss Cross" thing with China and their Mexico (which is, actually North Korea)

Saavy?

Honestly, if China wanted NK, I'd say give it to them, maybe in exchange for Taiwan? But I don't think they want it.

I think this boils down to a China/US issue. Frankly, if one or the other had said 'meh' around 1953 this would not be an issue.

Keep out the Russians by threatening that if they support NK, the Uke's get into NATO.

Boil it down to China/US.

But that's not it is it? NK is a little flea nagging at ya while you're trying to figure out the other axis of evil shit..

I think a lot of folk are not looking for an easy solution.

OK, that's enough of a start.

Thread on.

[big bad bold]

South Korea does not want re-unification. They just don't want a North Korean implosion. They would have to feed 20 million people. The Chinese see North Korea like that old friend from college with a crack problem that never got a job and is in and out of jail all the time. You are embarrassed to be seen with him but you feel obligated to give him a couple bucks whenever you see him. The U.S. is stretched to the limit militarily and financially and the crackhead knows this err I mean North Korea.