This North Korean issue seems like its been all over the news for some time now
and it's been on my mind. Well it's been established that the North Korean
regime is claiming nuclear capabilities and is waving around their 'nuke' card
for negotiations and normalization.
NK is really an interesting country.. Despite being one of the poorest countries
in the world, they have maintained one of the largest standing armies in the
world (5th or so.. although not that technologically advanced) for decades now,
as the Korean War has not technically ended. They are also seen as one of the
most introverted unpredictable regimes out there and its leader, Kim Jong Il, is
very often portrayed as a lunatic in charge of a abnormal, 'rogue' state. And
despite the many failures of the state, it also appears that the Communist
regime enjoys fair amount of loyalty and support from its people.
Just now I read in the NYTimes that the North just tested a missile and shot it
into the sea between South Korea and Japan.
I guess I'm interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the
following questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
..or anything else.
p.s. I only ask that ppl don't post things like 'Kim Jong Il is stupid/crazy'
type replies if you do.. those kinds of things make good discussion impossible.
^^ thanks.
Quote by unicorn2006And despite the
many failures of the state, it also appears that the Communist regime enjoys
fair amount of loyalty and support from its people.
The people are divided into two groups. Kim Jong give benefits to core group
members to ensure their loyalty and impose repression to the others to keep them
under strict control. Kinda hard for starving peasants to riot.
Quote by unicorn2006
I guess I'm interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the
following questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
..or anything else.
I don't like Kim Jong Il. He lives like a God king while many of his people are
starving. His motives seem to be just doing whatever he wants.
US cares because of Kim's claim of having nuclear missiles. These missiles can
supposedly reach as far as the west coast. I doubt war will happen. Neither side
is willing to initiate hostilites. The major countries in that area will more
likely try to negotiate something, don't know if it will succeed though.
hmm.. well.. to me i'm against this.. but 1st we better now what kind of missile
it is unicorn.. yea ? if it was a chemical missile or biological.. thats illegal
and they shouldn't do this.. but if it was a normal missile.. well.. its just a
normal one.. so it wont effect anything..but still this is a wrong thing to do..
i guess north koria is trying to do sumthin
who knows!
anyway.. thats my opninion.. ^^
cyaa later unicorn.. *waves*
Quote by unicorn2006
I guess I'm interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the
following questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
in order as posted above
- From what i've seen/heared/red: like most dictatorships it seem to be very
supressive towards it's people. Everyone is taught from the begining where and
what his/her place in the community will be.
- securing their own power (like all polititians, dictators in special)
- I Think everyone dealing with NK knows exactly what they want, they just won't
tell us
- As long as we send them enough food, energy and money to survice none
- Same reason they didn't like the russians to have tha A-bomb, another
high-roller in the nuclear game
- currently none, nobody will attack them in fear of losing... and they won't
change on their own
- can't predict the future ...
what could be pretty cool for playing the lottery
- china has been the greates and by now the only backup of the nk regime, but i
think they will reduce it for gaining more economic groth and power. South Korao
will stay the US outpost against communism, although this is pretty much
outdated. Don't know about Japan.
War with North Korea is much more likely than either the administration or the
media have indicated. And our coming invasion of Iraq may trigger developments
that push us still closer to conflict on the Korean peninsula. I honestly think
we should just invade them and give their people some of the dignity they
deserve.
I think the North Korean government's motives are clear; they are taking actions
that will result in the production of enough plutonium for as many nuclear
weapons as possible...
Quote by unicorn2006I guess I'm
interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the following
questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
The North Korea question is indeed an interesting one. The answer to it is made
even more complex by how deft a politician Kim Jong-il happens to be. While not
as powerful as his father, he has proved capable of maintaining control over the
North through a personality cult and the army. But then, I have heard that that
control may be slipping. Really, that's one of the issues with the North. They
are so closed off and isolated that no one knows for sure what is going on. This
sort of behavior tends to be frowned upon, much as whispering to a friend of
yours in front of others.
While there are probably a myriad reasons why the North has a nuclear program, I
would say that a large part of it is survival. The North seems to think that
everyone has it's number, and in some ways that is true. Plus, the nuclear
program helps boost the prestige of the North. Now with nuclear weapons they can
say, "See? See how much attention we are getting from America, Japan, and
China?" In essence, they are now part of an exclusive club.
I think the real threat of the North's nuclear program is not one of use by the
North Koreans, except in a desperation move. Instead, the real threat comes
through proliferation to other countries that may not have the technical
knowledge to start their own program. I think this is why the US is worried
about it. A funny thing about the North's nuclear program is that the South
really does not care. The North has always been capable of leveling Seoul with
conventional weapons, so the threat of a nuclear bomb is not that a high
priority.
Where to go next is a question that I think has an elusive answer for the
politicians dealing with this issue. The North has admitted to possessing
nuclear weapons, threatening to create more. What needs to happen next I think
is to try and minimize the threat that the North will produce more bombs or sell
them abroad. Probably the best strategy is to try and get the North to open up.
An invasion of the North would be a Pyrrhic victory. Yes, I do believe the US
and ROK are capable of it, and even China would probably stay quiet, so long as
the invasion was provoked. But the devastation would be immense. Engaging the
North is the best option. And this is where China comes in. China is really the
North's last ally. So if China can put enough pressure of North Korea, there is
a chance that it will open up and perhaps bring about economic reforms a la Deng
Xiaoping. Without these reforms, the North will be faced with two options:
collapse or proliferation. The role of the ROK and Japan in this is helping out
with the economic integration of the North. The ROK has already placed a large
emphasis on this, opening up factories inside the North. Back in 1994, Japan and
the ROK pledged to build two light water nuclear reactors in the North to
provide power as part of a deal for the North to halt its nuclear program. This
has yet to be done, due to the current impasse. But, with those plants in place,
the North may actually start producing good en masse.
Really, at the moment it's a very complicated dance. The North and America do
not want to give an inch. But, this policy isn't really working. And the longer
it doesn't work, the more likely North Korea will end up at one of the two
undesirable scenarios.
Quote by unicorn2006I guess I'm
interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the following
questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
I was never interested in Korea and it's N/S issues, but this topic intrigued
me.
I would think that Kim Hong Il has a psycho mind (equivalent to what you warned
us not to do, bwahahaha). Being a communist-ridden country even at a peaceful
21st (yes, will re-phrase that, concerning the wars in Iraq) century, North
Korea is still being like the olden days, military like, and very unstable. Yet,
if I thought as a North Korean, then I'd say that Kim Hong Il is rather
patriotic, a mastermind at strategies (Yay, Warcraft!) and probably striving to
regain a position for his country in the world.
In my opinion, North Korea is rather unpopular, even I, don't know much about it
until I stumbled onto this topic, which fed me quite a lot of information about
this strange, strange country.
Their motives... I think, it'd be something to revive this Korean war? And to
overthrow the South Korean government? Gain at least some kind of
"name"? All is uncertain, but that's what I wonder at the moment.
In my opinion again (well, it's never someone's opinion, unless I say it ),
North Korean is rather misunderstood. I suppose that if they want to revive as
an established/first-world/modern country, they could get monetary help from
their neighbours and live equally like the others. Peaceful...ahh. *__* I don't
understand that why they want to be like 'violent' people, only interested in
combat and military things. But ah, compared to them, if I ever meet any of
their people, I'd be beaten into pulp before I know it.
As you had said it, NK posed as a threat because of their nuclear resources?
Bombs and explosives. They would act someday, without as knowing, and bomb us
all. Is that not a threat? We don't know how dangerous they are, but we know
that they have the potential to become dangerous. Thus, a threat.
US has so far is the most powerful country in the world. I guess that they'll
feel intimidated by this poor yet strong in militia country. Won't you feel that
too? When something so small, suddenly become so threatening? I'd feel the same.
The solution to the NK issue to maintain peace with them, give them what they
want and avoid poking. ,_, (But I love poking~~! n_n) Well, it's not the best
solution. However, we can force a donkey to the stream, but not to drink from
it.
To answer to your next question, I'm afraid I do not know how to answer it.
North Korea has stayed hidden all this time, it's hard to know what they're
thinking. (unless you know something called future-telling)
Roles of China, South Korea and Japan as its neighbours? Why, concerning the
current issues about the ChinaxSKxJ YasukuniShrine & Junichiro Koizumi
thing, I doubt they'd unite and put their heads together to think of something.
;; Perhaps they would act separately, but it's best to stay
united. Well, hopefully, they'll think of some solution which is agreeable among
them.
i will say that they do need to have an eye kept on. they are not to much of a
threat, but if left unchecked it can become one that will be harder to stop. but
we should not keep treating them like crimanals, instead befriend them so they
have no reason to become a threat to us.
This North Korean issue seems like its been all over the news for some time now and it's been on my mind. Well it's been established that the North Korean regime is claiming nuclear capabilities and is waving around their 'nuke' card for negotiations and normalization.
NK is really an interesting country.. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, they have maintained one of the largest standing armies in the world (5th or so.. although not that technologically advanced) for decades now, as the Korean War has not technically ended. They are also seen as one of the most introverted unpredictable regimes out there and its leader, Kim Jong Il, is very often portrayed as a lunatic in charge of a abnormal, 'rogue' state. And despite the many failures of the state, it also appears that the Communist regime enjoys fair amount of loyalty and support from its people.
Just now I read in the NYTimes that the North just tested a missile and shot it into the sea between South Korea and Japan.
I guess I'm interested in how people would respond to any one or more of the following questions...
-what do you think of North Korea/ Kim Jong Il/ its regime?
-what are their motives?
-how misunderstood is NK?
-how much of a threat does NK pose?
-why does this issue bother the US so much, really?
-what is the solution to the NK issue?
-how do you think the issue will play out from here?
-what are the roles of China, South Korea, and Japan as NK's neighbors?
..or anything else.
p.s. I only ask that ppl don't post things like 'Kim Jong Il is stupid/crazy' type replies if you do.. those kinds of things make good discussion impossible. ^^ thanks.
Hmmm...i don't know much about Kim Jong's dictatorial regime or his motives.
However, as far as i see it, a US invasion of North Korea with no definitive proof of
a) nucleur capability (i.e. Iraq)
b) hostile intent
would provoke intense hostility from China, who certainly do NOT want an American army so close to their borders (a la the Korean War).
The people are divided into two groups. Kim Jong give benefits to core group members to ensure their loyalty and impose repression to the others to keep them under strict control. Kinda hard for starving peasants to riot.
I don't like Kim Jong Il. He lives like a God king while many of his people are starving. His motives seem to be just doing whatever he wants.
US cares because of Kim's claim of having nuclear missiles. These missiles can supposedly reach as far as the west coast. I doubt war will happen. Neither side is willing to initiate hostilites. The major countries in that area will more likely try to negotiate something, don't know if it will succeed though.
hmm.. well.. to me i'm against this.. but 1st we better now what kind of missile it is unicorn.. yea ? if it was a chemical missile or biological.. thats illegal and they shouldn't do this.. but if it was a normal missile.. well.. its just a normal one.. so it wont effect anything..but still this is a wrong thing to do.. i guess north koria is trying to do sumthin
who knows!
anyway.. thats my opninion.. ^^
cyaa later unicorn.. *waves*
in order as posted above
- From what i've seen/heared/red: like most dictatorships it seem to be very supressive towards it's people. Everyone is taught from the begining where and what his/her place in the community will be.
- securing their own power (like all polititians, dictators in special)
- I Think everyone dealing with NK knows exactly what they want, they just won't tell us
- As long as we send them enough food, energy and money to survice none
- Same reason they didn't like the russians to have tha A-bomb, another high-roller in the nuclear game
- currently none, nobody will attack them in fear of losing... and they won't change on their own
- can't predict the future
...
what could be pretty cool for playing the lottery
- china has been the greates and by now the only backup of the nk regime, but i think they will reduce it for gaining more economic groth and power. South Korao will stay the US outpost against communism, although this is pretty much outdated. Don't know about Japan.
just some thoughts, no offense
I think North Korea is not a major problem but with the nuclear pweapons they are. But there has be a peaceful answer to it.
War with North Korea is much more likely than either the administration or the media have indicated. And our coming invasion of Iraq may trigger developments that push us still closer to conflict on the Korean peninsula. I honestly think we should just invade them and give their people some of the dignity they deserve.
I think the North Korean government's motives are clear; they are taking actions that will result in the production of enough plutonium for as many nuclear weapons as possible...
The North Korea question is indeed an interesting one. The answer to it is made even more complex by how deft a politician Kim Jong-il happens to be. While not as powerful as his father, he has proved capable of maintaining control over the North through a personality cult and the army. But then, I have heard that that control may be slipping. Really, that's one of the issues with the North. They are so closed off and isolated that no one knows for sure what is going on. This sort of behavior tends to be frowned upon, much as whispering to a friend of yours in front of others.
While there are probably a myriad reasons why the North has a nuclear program, I would say that a large part of it is survival. The North seems to think that everyone has it's number, and in some ways that is true. Plus, the nuclear program helps boost the prestige of the North. Now with nuclear weapons they can say, "See? See how much attention we are getting from America, Japan, and China?" In essence, they are now part of an exclusive club.
I think the real threat of the North's nuclear program is not one of use by the North Koreans, except in a desperation move. Instead, the real threat comes through proliferation to other countries that may not have the technical knowledge to start their own program. I think this is why the US is worried about it. A funny thing about the North's nuclear program is that the South really does not care. The North has always been capable of leveling Seoul with conventional weapons, so the threat of a nuclear bomb is not that a high priority.
Where to go next is a question that I think has an elusive answer for the politicians dealing with this issue. The North has admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, threatening to create more. What needs to happen next I think is to try and minimize the threat that the North will produce more bombs or sell them abroad. Probably the best strategy is to try and get the North to open up. An invasion of the North would be a Pyrrhic victory. Yes, I do believe the US and ROK are capable of it, and even China would probably stay quiet, so long as the invasion was provoked. But the devastation would be immense. Engaging the North is the best option. And this is where China comes in. China is really the North's last ally. So if China can put enough pressure of North Korea, there is a chance that it will open up and perhaps bring about economic reforms a la Deng Xiaoping. Without these reforms, the North will be faced with two options: collapse or proliferation. The role of the ROK and Japan in this is helping out with the economic integration of the North. The ROK has already placed a large emphasis on this, opening up factories inside the North. Back in 1994, Japan and the ROK pledged to build two light water nuclear reactors in the North to provide power as part of a deal for the North to halt its nuclear program. This has yet to be done, due to the current impasse. But, with those plants in place, the North may actually start producing good en masse.
Really, at the moment it's a very complicated dance. The North and America do not want to give an inch. But, this policy isn't really working. And the longer it doesn't work, the more likely North Korea will end up at one of the two undesirable scenarios.
I was never interested in Korea and it's N/S issues, but this topic intrigued me.
I would think that Kim Hong Il has a psycho mind (equivalent to what you warned us not to do, bwahahaha). Being a communist-ridden country even at a peaceful 21st (yes, will re-phrase that, concerning the wars in Iraq) century, North Korea is still being like the olden days, military like, and very unstable. Yet, if I thought as a North Korean, then I'd say that Kim Hong Il is rather patriotic, a mastermind at strategies (Yay, Warcraft!) and probably striving to regain a position for his country in the world.
In my opinion, North Korea is rather unpopular, even I, don't know much about it until I stumbled onto this topic, which fed me quite a lot of information about this strange, strange country.
Their motives... I think, it'd be something to revive this Korean war? And to overthrow the South Korean government? Gain at least some kind of "name"? All is uncertain, but that's what I wonder at the moment.
In my opinion again (well, it's never someone's opinion, unless I say it
),
North Korean is rather misunderstood. I suppose that if they want to revive as
an established/first-world/modern country, they could get monetary help from
their neighbours and live equally like the others. Peaceful...ahh. *__* I don't
understand that why they want to be like 'violent' people, only interested in
combat and military things. But ah, compared to them, if I ever meet any of
their people, I'd be beaten into pulp before I know it.
As you had said it, NK posed as a threat because of their nuclear resources? Bombs and explosives. They would act someday, without as knowing, and bomb us all. Is that not a threat? We don't know how dangerous they are, but we know that they have the potential to become dangerous. Thus, a threat.
US has so far is the most powerful country in the world. I guess that they'll feel intimidated by this poor yet strong in militia country. Won't you feel that too? When something so small, suddenly become so threatening? I'd feel the same.
The solution to the NK issue to maintain peace with them, give them what they want and avoid poking. ,_, (But I love poking~~! n_n) Well, it's not the best solution. However, we can force a donkey to the stream, but not to drink from it.
To answer to your next question, I'm afraid I do not know how to answer it. North Korea has stayed hidden all this time, it's hard to know what they're thinking. (unless you know something called future-telling)
Roles of China, South Korea and Japan as its neighbours? Why, concerning the current issues about the ChinaxSKxJ YasukuniShrine & Junichiro Koizumi thing, I doubt they'd unite and put their heads together to think of something.
;; Perhaps they would act separately, but it's best to stay
united. Well, hopefully, they'll think of some solution which is agreeable among
them.
i will say that they do need to have an eye kept on. they are not to much of a threat, but if left unchecked it can become one that will be harder to stop. but we should not keep treating them like crimanals, instead befriend them so they have no reason to become a threat to us.