North Korea

[Dolph06]

He wants reunification; that does NOT mean he will concede power in the process.

I don't take my information from Western media on this, to be clear. I only take seriously the views of journalists, professors, and the like who have spent extended time in South Korea or are native Koreans themselves.

I say again that Kim wants reunification with the South. He, to my knowledge, does not truly despise South Koreans in general but does despise their political leaders who allow the US to occupy the peninsula. In his eyes, reunification of the peninsula means "liberating" the South from the United States.

Which is great, however, most South Koreans don't want to be reunited with North Korea so where do they stand? What do you think would happen when South Koreans rebel against North Korea, which I'm fairly confident that they would. Again, war would ensue.

 

[Alan]

Which is great, however, most South Koreans don't want to be reunited with North Korea so where do they stand? What do you think would happen when South Koreans rebel against North Korea, which I'm fairly confident that they would. Again, war would ensue.

My point is that reunification is Kim's goal and that starting a war in which his only move is to attack Seoul is antithetical to this goal. Therefore, he is not truly the risk some people make him out to be.

 

[Dolph06]

I don't see how it's antithetical. He doesn't want your idea of reunification, he wants his idea of reunification. Do you believe he would hand over power to the South Korean government should they decide to reunify? Do you think he would allow the citizens of both countries vote on who would lead the new Korea? Absolutely not. He also knows that South Koreans, for the most part, are happy with their country and being America's ally, this angers him greatly. I have to say, he is far more dangerous and childish than you give him credit for.

 

[Alan]

It's antithetical because he needs the South intact if reunification is to work. Destroying the economy of the South destroys any chance of a unified Korea being sustainable.

I'm not saying that his idea of reunification is at all realistic but it isn't exactly a secret.

 

[Dolph06]

It's antithetical because he needs the South intact if reunification is to work. Destroying the economy of the South destroys any chance of a unified Korea being sustainable.

I'm not saying that his idea of reunification is at all realistic but it isn't exactly a secret.

That, my friend, is exactly what makes him dangerous. Knowing that reunification is impossible, but, winning a war with China potentially on his side is remotely possible. Now, I'm not saying I agree with him, I'm saying you thinking his threats are empty and lack any potential danger is slightly wayward.

 

[Alan]

I would argue that the chances of China supporting him in a war are less than zero.

 

[Dolph06]

I would argue that the chances of China supporting him in a war are less than zero.

I'm not saying they would either, but in the current climate I can't be certain.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

After Trumps belligerent speech at the UN, Kim Jong Un has come out and directly addressed the World in order to threaten Trump and the US directly.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41356836

Considering the fact that he's come out and said this during the UN General Assembly, this is quite an escalation in tensions and now is the time for the senior advisors to step and muzzle Trump. Neither man seems like he is going to back down, they are both sociopaths without conscience, so I believe we are now one step closer to nuclear war in the Pacific.

It's absolutely mental, but I did predict something like this when Trump was elected.

 

[Langers]

I thought that by now, someone might have been able to get through to Trump that you can't say bullshit like that. The guy is a fucking moron and why he's not been gagged is totally beyond me.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Just think back to the speeches Obama made when he was POTUS. Eloquent and careful with his words, whilst condemning in the strongest possible terms.

Compare that to:

Rocket man is on a suicide mission

I will build a great wall – and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me – and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”

“It’s freezing and snowing in New York – we need global warming!”

"Another attack in London by a loser terrorist"

"Loser terrorist"..... seriously, what kind of alternate reality have we slipped into, when the most influential perosn on the planet makes remarks like this?

 

[Langers]

I think one of the scariest things is I'd gladly swap Trump for George Dubya.

Have you seen the difference between the message Obama left in the guestbook at the Holocaust Memorial compared to Trump's? I think it's on the Trump thread in the current affairs section.

It's like comparing Lionel Messi to Frank Nouble.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

I think one of the scariest things is I'd gladly swap Trump for George Dubya.

Have you seen the difference between the message Obama left in the guestbook at the Holocaust Memorial compared to Trump's? I think it's on the Trump thread in the current affairs section.

It's like comparing Lionel Messi to Frank Nouble.

Yep. "Had a wonderful time with all my friends! "

It's like a wierd Truman Show style experiment into how far we can let American stupidity get.

 

[broughtonwolf]

After Trumps belligerent speech at the UN, Kim Jong Un has come out and directly addressed the World in order to threaten Trump and the US directly.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41356836

Considering the fact that he's come out and said this during the UN General Assembly, this is quite an escalation in tensions and now is the time for the senior advisors to step and muzzle Trump. Neither man seems like he is going to back down, they are both sociopaths without conscience, so I believe we are now one step closer to nuclear war in the Pacific.

It's absolutely mental, but I did predict something like this when Trump was elected.

Top bantz from Kim. It's as if the pair of them are having a mutual Yo Mama contest with all-out nuclear war as a backdrop.

 

[Parkins left foot]

I thought that by now, someone might have been able to get through to Trump that you can't say bullshit like that. The guy is a fucking moron and why he's not been gagged is totally beyond me.

Problem is that Trump has surrounded himself with people who think the same as him so no sensible voice is getting heard - plus not sure that he listens to anyone anyway he is that egocentric that he believe's that the sun shines out of every orifice he has.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

North and South Korea have decided to field a joint team at the Winter Olympics, and will compete under a Unified flag.

Amazing progress, hopefully it turns into political progress.

 

[Langers]

Just finished this book.

It's incredibly harrowing - I hadn't read any first hand accounts of the level of suffering in North Korea before. Worth a look.

 

[jlo]

Just finished this book.

It's incredibly harrowing - I hadn't read any first hand accounts of the level of suffering in North Korea before. Worth a look.

Not read this one, thanks for sharing it. I have about 5 others I'd recommend, 3 personal stories:

- Shin Dong-hyuk (who I'm fortunate to be in direct contact with and it still makes me shiver when he likes my Facebook posts!)
- Yeonmi Park
- Hyeonseo Lee
(Both people whom I also know but less personally)

- Nothing to Envy
- The Aquariums of Pyongyang
(Both great introduction books to NK)

 

[Langers]

Thanks mate - I'll make a note of those.

 

[Tony Towner]

Rumours Kim has died having a heart op

 

[Trips]

Dead or vegetative state seems to be the rumour currently