Is the Korean War about to Re-Start?

[ejames01]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090528/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear

[East Detroit]

1. Where does North Korea get their military money?

2. What does North Korea want? I can't recall any article that said what they want.

3. Does this void warranties on Kias and Hyundais?

[ejames01]

Indeed. My ex's son is there.


Not funny, we have almost 30,000 troops standing between the North and the South. If there is a war, US soldiers will bear the brunt of it.

[Ray1936]

1. Where does North Korea get their military money?

2. What does North Korea want? I can't recall any article that said what they want.

3. Does this void warranties on Kias and Hyundais?

1. Everything North Korea gets goes into their military. It's not a trifle unit; it's really very substantial.

2. They want the re-unification of Korea.

3. Don't matter to me, I'm a Ford man.

[gibran]

this is one where China and Russia need to take a active role..let them see what it is like to deal with a mad man ....they are supplying support and would lose if NK goes to war...we should have all th eplayers on thesame page..for one time we all loose with NK...

[Detroitej72]

I wonder if this is a case of Kim Jong ll trying to show strength to his people, or, if its some of the other players in North Korea's government jockeying for position if Jong ll dies.

Either way, this saber rattling is cause for concern.

P.S. Hyundai and KIA are built in South Korea. Big difference.

[ejames01]

Tri-Lateral Nukes would do the trick. American, Chinese and Russian missile strikes that would wipe them off the map.

[East Detroit]

1. Everything North Korea gets goes into their military. It's not a trifle unit; it's really very substantial.

2. They want the re-unification of Korea.

3. Don't matter to me, I'm a Ford man.

1. Yes, but where do they get that money? Is it from China? Are they exporting goods? Are we helping fund them indirectly by shopping at Walmart?

2. Why do they fire over Japan then? Just warning us to keep away while they take South Korea?

3. Doesn't matter to me, either, but if they do get their way or push for it then I would think Kia and Hyundai will not exist.

[East Detroit]

P.S. Hyundai and KIA are built in South Korea. Big difference.

Isn't that the point? NK doesn't want a big difference.

[East Detroit]

Not funny, we have almost 30,000 troops standing between the North and the South. If there is a war, US soldiers will bear the brunt of it.

You're right, it isn't funny when livelihood is at stake.

Thing is, I wouldn't be shocked if NK took over SK, we lost thousands of our troops... and then the "ME" and "MY" Americans went ahead and bought their Kias and Hyundais from the "reunited" Korea.

Perhaps our purchases from China are already funding NK.

[d.mcc]

Perhaps our purchases from China are already funding NK.

Doubt it, as they have more to gain economically from siding with the more industrial and modern South Korea...

http://www.toofly.com/userGallery/1243468090.jpg

[East Detroit]

Doubt it, as they have more to gain economically from siding with the more industrial and modern South Korea...


They are getting money from South Korea? Sounds doubtful.

[lpg]

My uncle graduated from Southwestern HS in 1948. He joined the army reserves. Ended up in Korea in 1950. Korean troops bugged out during a attack and he ended up a POW. He had no use for those people.
If the North develops it's nukes they will have a market for them in every lunatic group that hates the US.

[d.mcc]

My uncle graduated from Southwestern HS in 1948. He joined the army reserves. Ended up in Korea in 1950. Korean troops bugged out during a attack and he ended up a POW. He had no use for those people.
If the North develops it's nukes they will have a market for them in every lunatic group that hates the US.

Better start picking up random North Korean "terrorists" and bring them to Gitmo for "questioning"

[ccbatson]

I think (and pray) that this is another bluff from North Korea. Regardless, how we play it (strong versus weak) will send a powerful message to both North Korea and other hostile nations (Syria, Iran).

[Detroitej72]

Hopefully Obama will take a cue from the Great Teddy Roosevelt, and "speak softly and carry a big stick", and nip this in the bud.

[WolverinesA2]

I think (and pray) that this is another bluff from North Korea. Regardless, how we play it (strong versus weak) will send a powerful message to both North Korea and other hostile nations (Syria, Iran).

Bush played it strong with Saddam and Iraq in 2003, it hasn't seem to have deterred Iran or North Korea from pursuing weapons programs, now has it?

[reddog289]

Having grown up with a Korean War vet as my father, I myself can't belive that this stalemate has lasted almost 60yrs. I have a picture of my Uncle holding my cousin [his niece]. He was on leave from duty in Korea during the Vietnam war. Who would have thought in 1952 or 66 for that matter that we would be dealing with this problem in 2009. BTW my cousin would join the Air Force and spend 2 years in Korea.Some things never change.

[firstandten]

Here is a very interesting take on this situation

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6374870.ece

[Detroit Stylin]

Technically, we are are still at a cease fire after 56 years. The war in Korea has never been over....

[rb336]

They are getting money from South Korea? Sounds doubtful.

yes, NK gets substantial aid from SK

[mjs]

China and South Korea remain the largest donors of food aid to North Korea. The U.S. objects to this manner of donating food due to lack of supervision. In 2005, China and South Korea combined to provide 1 million tons of food aid, each contributing half. In addition to food aid, China reportedly provides an estimated 80 to 90 percent of North Korea's oil imports at "friendly prices" that are sharply lower than the world market price.

On September 19, 2005, North Korea was promised fuel aid and various other non-food incentives from South Korea, the U.S., Japan, Russia, and China in exchange for abandoning its nuclear weapons program and rejoining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_Treaty). Providing food in exchange for abandoning weapons programs has historically been avoided by the U.S. so as not to be perceived as "using food as a weapon".Humanitarian aid from North Korea's neighbors has been cut off at times to provoke North Korea to resume boycotted talks, For example, South Korea's had the "postponed consideration" of 500,000 tons of rice for the North in 2006 but the idea of providing food as a clear incentive (as opposed to resuming "general humanitarian aid") has been avoided.There have also been aid disruptions due to widespread theft of railroad cars (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Locomotive) used by mainland China to deliver food relief.
Not all countries refuse aid to starving people because the people are unfortunate enough to live under oppressive unfriendly governments. I really recommend reading the entire article. If we do go to war, it will help explain why. I know its Wikipedia, but I tend to trust articles that are backed up with good references. Read all of the references directly if it makes you feel better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea

[mjs]

In 2006, Amnesty International (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Amnesty_International) reported that a national nutrition "survey" conducted by the North Korean government, the World Food Programme (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/World_Food_Programme), and UNICEF (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/United_Nations_Children%27s_Fund) found that 7 percent of children were severely malnourished (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Malnutrition); 37 percent were chronically malnourished; 23.4 percent were underweight; and one in three mothers was malnourished and anaemic (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Anemia) as the result of the lingering effect of the famine. The inflation caused by some of the 2002 economic reforms, including the Songun or "Military-first" policy (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Songun), was cited for creating the increased price of basic foods.

. . .

Under the Bush Administration (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Presidency_of_George_W._Bush), aid was drastically reduced year after year from 350,000 tons in 2001 to 40,000 in 2004. The Bush Administration took criticism for using "food as a weapon" during talks over the North's nuclear weapons program, but insisted the U.S. Agency for International Development (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development ) (USAID) criteria were the same for all countries and the situation in North Korea had "improved significantly since its collapse in the mid-1990s." Agricultural production had increased from about 2.7 million metric tons (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Tonne) in 1997 to 4.2 million metric tons (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Tonne) in 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea I'm telling you, its a good read.

[Flanders]

the situation in North Korea had "improved significantly since its collapse in the mid-1990s." Agricultural production had increased from about 2.7 million metric tons (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Tonne) in 1997 to 4.2 million metric tons (http://www.detroityes.com/wiki/Tonne) in 2004.

Hmm...North Korea and the Bush administration...obviously trustworthy..

Of course I should believe that their agricultural production increased by almost a quarter-million metric tons each year 97-04...consider the sources...:rolleyes:

[Danny]

Kim Jong Il is no fool! He just want the U.S. to simply BACK OFF from is communist personality cult nation. He warned Washington if one U.S. or allied ship, plane or tank or soldier enter his land, " NUCLEAR WAR" will start. The Americans just have to back away and believe his bluff. All political matters against N. Korea and U.S. must to dealt with diplomacy in order to continue a stable peace. If N. Korea attacks S. Korea than it is a declaration of WAR!


Get ready for World War III Get ready for the Atomic Age.

[Det_ard]

WWJBD?

(What Would John Bolton Do?)

[ccbatson]

He (Kim Jung Ill) wants more than the US to leave him alone...he wants money and power. I agree that he will not likely use a nuclear weapon, but I am not sure that he might not attack some US or South Korean targets with conventional weapons.

[rb336]

he would certainly have no problem selling a nuke to the highest bidder. that is the biggest threat, and yet another lapse in the judgment of the neocons

[Detroitej72]

He (Kim Jung Ill) wants more than the US to leave him alone...he wants money and power. I agree that he will not likely use a nuclear weapon, but I am not sure that he might not attack some US or South Korean targets with conventional weapons.

Yes, the scary thing is that we have 40000+ U.S. soldiers in the demilitarized zone who could become targets for this lunatic. Not to mention, he could take out Soul very easily.

This nut, Kim Jong ll may just be saber rattling for attention, but America cannot afford to take this matter lightly. Hopefully a compromise can be reached because if we must resort to fire power, I fear it will be very costly in terms of American and South Korean lives.

[ccbatson]

I will not disagree with you on this one Detroitej72.

[Detroitej72]

See, we can find common ground!

[ccbatson]

However, I am not so sure Obama and you are on that same common ground when it comes to North Korea.

[Detroitej72]

Only time will tell on that one.

[ccbatson]

True...not looking to good so far though.

[rb336]

However, I am not so sure Obama and you are on that same common ground when it comes to North Korea.


what makes you say that other than your insane, unustified hatred of the man?

[ccbatson]

For one thing, his lack of response and the escalating provocation Rb.

[rb336]

For one thing, his lack of response and the escalating provocation Rb.

gee, bats, there WAS a strong response -- stronger than any dubya ever gave

[mjs]

Wouldn't a lack of response and a provocation be opposites? Like when your dad says, "Don't fight with your brother; just ignore him."

[ccbatson]

Sorry...escalating provocation from N. Korea.

Rb...what was the strong response you are referring to? Did it work? Or did more aggressive provocation follow it?

[rb336]

Sorry...escalating provocation from N. Korea.

Rb...what was the strong response you are referring to? Did it work? Or did more aggressive provocation follow it?

oh, has there been more provocation? bluster/mouthing off doesn't count (even though you clearly feel that it is the greatest strength)

as for the strong response, i could tell you, but it would never get through your rand goggles and rand ear plugs

damn, Bats looks just like one of those Tommy drones

[ccbatson]

He wants money and power. He does not care if his beloved proletariots fall in pursuit of this. Who am I speaking of? Kim Jong ill or Obama?