North Korea - Film at 11

[Sean Malone]

A bit of cat and mouse with the US, Chinese and North Korea. The USS McCain is poised to intercept a NK ship suspected of arms proliferation. A few days ago the same US ship was shadowed by a Chinese sub that actually hit their sonar. North Korea claims they may "...test a long distance missile and oh, yeah, we're going to send it towards Hawaii".
Where's this going?

link (http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55H6TE20090619?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews)

[Napoleon]

Where's this going?


No where, N. Korea is a 10th rate power that can do nothing to hurt us and even if they did they would get crushed in a nano-second.

BTW, the defense department has parked this off of the coast of Hawaii to track any incomings.



http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AQ358_GATES__G_20090618182629.jpg

Story on radar:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124535285705228571.html

[dando]

No where, N. Korea is a 10th rate power that can do nothing to hurt us and even if they did they would get crushed in a nano-second.

As we found out in the 50s, the problem is their allies across the border. :(

http://www.bear-town.com/images/for_journal/team_america_kim.png

-Kevin

[Sean Malone]

North Korea postures for numerous reasons. The reports now say the latest chest thumping is more aimed at internal politics to strengthen the choice of Kims son as successor.
My curiosity grows as these little potential triggers occur. There is a limit to the number of times you can poke the giant with a stick until the giant smashes you under his hand. Lobbing a missile towards Hawaii is a pretty serious provocation, although more than likely it’s just empty threats. Of course the complication comes when his big brother i.e. China is watching your every step.

[Napoleon]

As we found out in the 50s, the problem is their allies across the border. :(

http://www.bear-town.com/images/for_journal/team_america_kim.png

-Kevin

I have a Korean friend that looks a bit like him. 2 or 3 years ago that is who he dressed as to go to a holloween party.

China is not going to do anything. They have no reason to. At worst they use Korea as a cats paw with us.

[oddlycalm]

Both China and Russia view NK's current silliness as bad for business. China's focus is on elevating enough of their population out of abject poverty fast enough to head off internal frustration at home. Their biggest concern is not having a big mess to clean up. The flow of refugees to China has been slow and steady (as documented by the two US reporters now in NK prison) but any serious event would have millions of starving people streaming into China. That's their worst nightmare, having to divert resources from their economy to bail out NK.

oc

[stroker]

I would hope the PRC's worst nightmare would be thousands of radioactive refugees streaming across the Yalu....

[Methanolandbrats]

The United States should empty it's animal shelters and ship the cats and dogs to North Korea. In one inexpensive move we would provide food relief, win friends, defuse a tense military situation and cultivate a new trading partner :thumbup:

[Gnam]

Can we give them Danica too?