Is North Korea's Leader losing it?

[HopAlongBunny]

N.Korea seems to be simply sliding into the the spaces Trump's foreign policy creates.
As the U.S. retreats from Asia, China becomes the only game in town. Short-term, lip service to America might be needed but with American diplomatic, economic and military withdrawl the longterm game is all China.
The question (for me) is does China really care? The present policy seems to open up the region for China to pursue hegemony; with a nod and a wink to American bluster China moves into the empty spaces America creates.
N.Korea just rides the wave and makes a nice "shiny" to wave at America while China expands and entrenches it influence and territory in the region.
Does Trump have the patience or vision to sustain the long game of strategy and diplomacy required; regional allies might chose to wait it out, but they might jump ship:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...hina-the-world

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/03/...asia-to-china/

[Shaka_Khan]

[Husar]

A video tends to be a bad way to convey a list of numbers. Not only is it needlessly time-consuming, it also contains wrong data, such as Britain spends 1% of its GDP on defense. The actual number is 1.9%: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...y_expenditures

Japan has about twice the population of Britain and almost twice the GDP, it's mathematically impossible that they both spend 1% on defense and Britain spends more...
The tank and especially aircraft comparisons are a bit simplistic, comparing just simple numbers for the most part. I'm not sure what the point is and lists could give me the numbers much faster, so tl;dw....

[Shaka_Khan]

Japan has about twice the population of Britain and almost twice the GDP, it's mathematically impossible that they both spend 1% on defense and Britain spends more...

Actually, Japan spends a lot on its military. Contrary to what many outside of Asia believe, Japan's military isn't small. And they have expensive tanks and other vehicles and aircrafts. The Japanese navy is quite impressive, too.

I'm not sure what the point is

I'm trying to show how dangerous the region could get if war breaks out. The militaries in this region are large and powerful. Add the US military including the ones that are already stationed in East Asia.

[Fragony]

Haven't watched the video but that's a JSF you see on the picture of the video at least. Photoshop? Japan doesn't has them (lucky bastards)

[Husar]

Actually, Japan spends a lot on its military. Contrary to what many outside of Asia believe, Japan's military isn't small. And they have expensive tanks and other vehicles and aircrafts. The Japanese navy is quite impressive, too.

The video had Britain spend more money than Japan. It also said both Britain and Japan spend 1% of GDP.

So let's assume Japan has a GDP of 100 and Britain a GDP of 50. Please tell me how they can both have a military budget of 1% of their respective GDPs and Britain comes out spending more.

Of course the answer is that Brtian does not spend 1% but 1.9% or thereabouts and that's how they spend somewhat more in absolute terms.

And of course some people are just posting alternative facts again: https://www.f35.com/global/participation/japan

The first F-35A for Japan was presented at an official rollout ceremony on Sept. 23, 2016.

[Beskar]

The video had Britain spend more money than Japan. It also said both Britain and Japan spend 1% of GDP

If you paid attention... everyone was spending 1% !

[Husar]

If you paid attention... everyone was spending 1% !

I stopped watching actually.

[edyzmedieval]

North Korea thing is sabre rattling as usual, but it's definitely to some levels we haven't seen so far.

[Greyblades]

The unusual lack of chinese support would probably explain it.

They feel cornered and might be close to lashing out.

[Strike For The South]

Lashing out is not a rational move. If Kim is really as unhinged as some people think he is, a coup may not be totally out of the question. A North Korean attack would do nothing but kill a lot of people on the peninsula and put the USA right across the river from the Chinese.

[Beskar]

Remove leadership, offer general amnesty for the rest and rebuilding the country under an United Korea.

[Sarmatian]

Remove leadership, offer general amnesty for the rest and rebuilding the country under an United Korea.

And what are supposed to do with the rest of the afternoon?

[Strike For The South]

Except China won't allow that because it will invariably become a US backed state. Conceivably, they could be persuaded if the US made some concessions in the South China Sea but why should we do that for what seems like an inevitability?

[Beskar]

United States could be persuaded to withdraw troops at that point. China could be lured with economic investment in rebuilding North Korea. An united Korea might end up being more sympathetic to Beijing too due to the Influence of the North Koreans who are slowly being integrated into the democratic process.

In a way, it would actually decrease USA influence in Asia, so geopolitically, having North Korea as a rogue pariah is actually beneficial for American interest.

[Strike For The South]

As soon as the North Koreans get that first hit of American soft culture, they will flock to us.

Bow to the Levis.

I imagine Sarmatians house is nothing but basketballs, Springsteen tapes, and closets full of blue jeans.

[Montmorency]

As soon as the North Koreans get that first hit of American soft culture, they will flock to us.

Bow to the Levis.

I imagine Sarmatians house is nothing but basketballs, Springsteen tapes, and closets full of blue jeans.

They're more into bootlegged South Korean soap operas, but it's close.

Maybe the world should just empower the United States over the United Nations.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Remove leadership, offer general amnesty for the rest and rebuilding the country under an United Korea.

If only...

I don't think the PRC would accept this without a lot of hefty caveats.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

As soon as the North Koreans get that first hit of American soft culture, they will flock to us.

Bow to the Levis.

I imagine Sarmatians house is nothing but basketballs, Springsteen tapes, and closets full of blue jeans.

So the ultimate weapon against China...the one they fear....is K-pop?

[Strike For The South]

In a manner of speaking. China is trying to be smart about it and make a measured descent into capitalism. NK won't have that luxury under the scenario we are discussing.

[Pannonian]

So the ultimate weapon against China...the one they fear....is K-pop?

I've seen it mentioned that North Korea's ultimate threat against Chinese neglect is to open the borders and allow their population to flood unchecked into China. Does that count as K-pop?

Also, I found this whilst looking for something else.

Kim does have 3 sons, which one of them will take power. I hope it will be the second oldest of them, as he studied in Switzerland, so we can hope for a more democratic and liberal mind.

[Shaka_Khan]

Speaking of North Korean K-pop...

[drone]

Speaking of North Korean K-pop...

So that's what unaltered Korean women look like...

[Shaka_Khan]

[Sarmatian]

As soon as the North Koreans get that first hit of American soft culture, they will flock to us.

Bow to the Levis.

I imagine Sarmatians house is nothing but basketballs, Springsteen tapes, and closets full of blue jeans.

... and I'm humming Yankee Doodle while eating a hot dog.

I think the true end of western cultural dominance was Gangnam Style. An Asian performer with the most popular rap song ever. Pretty soon we're all gonna be glued in front of the screen, waiting for a new episode of Smo Kee and the Ban Din.

It's over.

[Montmorency]

Gangnam Style

rap song

dude

[Sarmatian]

Rap, pop, techno... whatever.

Not Springsteen.

[edyzmedieval]

Also, I found this whilst looking for something else.

Hah, how wrong I was.

I expected it to be totally different - expected it to actually be much better than it was before.

[Shaka_Khan]

[Fragony]

You sometimes don't know whe to laugh and just shake your head. That teacup-eared fattie is threatening with total-doom. It would be comical if the situation for North-Koreans wouldn't be so miserable.