T2K Today: Korea

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

I think what they're afraid of is the Kims nuking them or some of their other WMD being used to stave them off. China had enough trouble with SARS and Bird Flu outbreaks, what if the Norks hit Chinese troops with oh, I dunno Weaponized Smallpox

It would be the end of NK.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

We don't even need to be in South Korea anymore -- the ROKs are more than capable of taking care of the North Koreans by themselves. That was almost true when I was there in the late 1980s, and it's definitely true now. Heck, they have some Russian-made equipment that's way better than the North Korean's Russian equipment -- the fall of the Soviet Union's been a good thing for South Korea. The real reason we're still in the ROK is as a symbol, to let North Korea know we're willing to help the ROK. (Personally, I don't think we have enough troops available for more than a token force these days -- the era when there would have been a sudden, massive intervention in the case of an invasion by the North is over.)

Ditto, what he said.

[Eddie]

See my last post. Actually a capitalist based economy will more likely to be the environment were it will be found. Though that's just one mans opinion.

I don't doubt that. I never doubted that. I was being a smartass about the Xbox comment. It struck me humorous that the information Kato provided ended with a boy playing an Xbox. All that seriousness and drama to end with an Xbox.

I have nothing against capitalism. I'm from America and two of my bachelors are in business. I epitomize a capitalist. I fully understand the advances that competition spurs historically.

I will try to refrain from making smartassed remarks anymore as nine times out of ten around here they are misunderstood.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

I don't doubt that. I never doubted that. I was being a smartass about the Xbox comment. It struck me humorous that the information Kato provided ended with a boy playing an Xbox. All that seriousness and drama to end with an Xbox.

I have nothing against capitalism. I'm from America and two of my bachelors are in business. I epitomize a capitalist. I fully understand the advances that competition spurs historically.

I will try to refrain from making smartassed remarks anymore as nine times out of ten around here they are misunderstood.

Ahh, LOL No problem. , I did see it out of context.

You know I just realized what this new generation should be called.

"Generation Xbox" :P

[Nowhere Man 1966]

If it were to go hot, the casualties would be just enormous. I have no idea what firebreaks would be drawn by Cousin Kim's regime. The destruction of a major city like Seoul and the damage to the ROK, plus the expenditure of massive treasure to fight the war, might be just the thing to send the US economy into a double dip. Naturally, Kim's people know we think this way and are using our sensitivity to things like human life and economics to turn the screws on us (ROK & allies). I really have no idea where this will lead.

Webstral

Plus, where would Mom get spare parts for her Hyundai

Seriously, this would be a huge mess indeed. I have an interest in following the two Koreas, my father was stationed at Camp Casey in 1955/56 and my Uncle Chuck was a paratrooper for the 101st in the Korean War.

Chuck

P.S. As to car parts, there are third party vendors.

[Nowhere Man 1966]

Agreed. South Korea is already an economic powerhouse. I think China would view a unified Korea as an even more dangerous economic competitor. Yeah, it would take a decade or two for the South to pull the North up to something approaching solvency, but once it does, look out! I mean, West Germany/Germany did something very similar in just over a decade or so.

And don't make the mistake of underestimating the NK military. Yeah, it's probably more bark than it is bite but we made the mistake of underestimating it once and we almost got our asses kicked as a result. Even if the NKs lost the conventional war fairly quickly, if/when it went asymetric, we could end up pacifying/stabilizing the North for a very long time. Throw in NBC weapons at some point and it could get very, very ugly before it was all over.

True, just look at the status of Hyundai and Kia cars now. Twenty years ago, they were the butt of jokes, not much better than a Yugo in most people's eyes, although I've talked to some people who said even the early 1990's models held up very well. Mom bought a new Hyundai in 2004 because it was affordable, they are an alternative to people who cannot afford the new American or Japanese cars.

Chuck

[pmulcahy11b]

True, just look at the status of Hyundai and Kia cars now. Twenty years ago, they were the butt of jokes, not much better than a Yugo in most people's eyes, although I've talked to some people who said even the early 1990's models held up very well. Mom bought a new Hyundai in 2004 because it was affordable, they are an alternative to people who cannot afford the new American or Japanese cars.

Chuck

I've had a Kia Sedona minivan for nearly five years now, without a single problem except for a loose gas door over the gas cap. (And the stereo -- the factory stereo on a Kia sucks big ones.) It has better pullout than my previous Ford Contour Sport, even though the engines are of the same horsepower and the Sedona is a thousand pounds heavier.

[Nowhere Man 1966]

I've had a Kia Sedona minivan for nearly five years now, without a single problem except for a loose gas door. (And the stereo -- the factory stereo on a Kia sucks big ones.) It has better pullout than my previous Ford Contour Sport, even though the engines are of the same horsepower and the Sedona is a thousand pounds heavier.

The Kia's transmission could be geared differently so that could be the reason for the better performance. Mom's Sonata is from 2004 and the only part needed replacement was a light bulb in a tailight so far along with tires. At work we have a Ford Ranger with a 2.3 Liter 4 cylinder, that thing is a pig, slow pickup and so on. Mom's Hyundai engine is bigger and more powerful. I drive the Chevy Colorado myself, an Isuzu I370 clone with a 5 cylinder engine. The Colorado has quick pickup, it had 242 hp vs the Ford's 141.

Chuck

[Abbott Shaull]

Father-in-Law and his sister own Hyundai Santa Fe and they have no complaint about them...

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's a little tidbit I got from a Jane's newsletter. (I don't have the money for an actual subscription, so all I get is scraps.)

"A so-called 'bubble jet' effect, rather than a direct hit, is likely to have been responsible for the sinking of South Korean warship Chon An in the Yellow Sea (West Sea) off the coast of North Korea on 26 March. The chairman of the South Korean team investigating, Yoon Duk-yong, said: "The possibility of an underwater non-contact explosion is bigger than that of an underwater contact explosion, considering the shape of the severed surfaces and conditions." "The chances of an internal explosion, fatigue fracture or collision with a reef is zero," added Yoon, raising further the suspicion of North Korean involvement."

Note that I am behind in reading these, and this is from 04 May.

[boogiedowndonovan]

this hasn't gotten much play in the media and it probably won't change much in the way of North Korea/PRC relations. But North Korean border guards recently shot and killed three Chinese civilians, smugglers actually.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703302604575294421556582924.htmlmod=wsj_india_main

[Raellus]

More Nork weirdness:

According to the broadcasters during today's DPRK vs. Brazil soccer match, the North Korean fans that you see during their games in SA aren't actually North Koreans at all but are paid Chinese actors. It makes sense since real NKs would probably jump at the opportunity to defect.

Also, the NK coach claims to receive in-game tactical instructions from the Dear Leader via and invisible communications device. His advice apparently wasn't so great today.

You've gotta love those wacky NKs!

[headquarters]

I have also read this

More Nork weirdness:

According to the broadcasters during today's DPRK vs. Brazil soccer match, the North Korean fans that you see during their games in SA aren't actually North Koreans at all but are paid Chinese actors. It makes sense since real NKs would probably jump at the opportunity to defect.

Also, the NK coach claims to receive in-game tactical instructions from the Dear Leader via and invisible communications device. His advice apparently wasn't so great today.

You've gotta love those wacky NKs!

It is a tragically funny story ,if it is true.
I thought NK played rather well though .

As for Dear Leaders instructions ( via NK satelite from PyongYang where he sits in his jumpsuit in a recliner swigging beer ,surrounded by pouting teenage entertainment brigade girls that massage him before the 140 inch big screen - now,what World Cup coach wouldnt benefit from that !)

I like the sobriquet that his potential successor has gotten - "Brilliant Comrade" . Makes you wonder what they call the one that drinks and whores around in Macau " Decadent comrade " And the one that is supposedly deemed to feminine " Dodgy Comrade "

[Abbott Shaull]

Did anyone catch the tidbit today out of North Korea..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100616/ap_on_re_as/as_skorea_ship_sinks

Funny how they warning the UN that something they initiated when they sunk the boat could lead to nuclear war. Talk like that sounds like they are just itching for a fight, but want the UN, US, and South Korea to appear to start the fighting. Maybe that is North knows they can't win and want China to help so maybe some of the food that China sent to feed it troop can be siphon off to feed it own population behind the front lines.

[pmulcahy11b]

I think the North Koreans want the South Koreans to pretend nothing happened -- and thereby admit that they are powerless in the face of "powerful North Korean war machine."