Korean sword-rattling

[Louis VI the Fat]

The rest of the world must either lend Korea hundreds of billions or prepare for its total economic collapse.

A pittance really. We might as well, while we're at it. Half the world is on a bailout from my grandchildren's money as it is already.

[rory_20_uk]

In some ways the peninsula makes the job easier.

South Korea would probably not need to go on a war footing. The North wouldn't survive long enough for this to be required. It's a sword made of pig iron - it might cause a wound, but it'll shatter. Between America, Japan and South Korea there's enough weaponry to smash anything that could be of offensive value.

Clear up is going to be a mess of course. But if rather than integrating the whole of the north aid is given as far as possible, but the line of integration only slowly goes north as fast as the South with assistance can cope. The narrowness of the border helps prevent a vast influx that would cause a logistical nightmare.

It might take weeks, it might take years. but getting over the culture shock and any die-hard nutters that want to fight to the death will take time - as will dismantling any bunkers or other subterranean surprises there are.

America, Japan will be pleased that this has been sorted and would help with both the military as well as the humanitarian aid - how many million tonnes of rice does Japan buy from America to take off the market? Might as well feed people with it.

[rotorgun]

Most of the South Koreans I have spoken to, and I know quite a few, tell me that they do not want to see South Korea involved in a war right now. Many lives are at stake, with the threatened use of Nuclear weapons, and they don't wish to see the economic prosperity that South Korea has achieved, compared to the North, to be jeopardized. Perhaps this is why South Korea has not retaliated, but merely increased its defensive posture. I tend to agree with them at this time, but wonder how the North Korean government will interpret such a stance, whether it be weakness or resolve.

[spmetla]

Though not related directly to the debate here's a nice BBC Documentary Glimpses of real North Korean life behind the facade.

[Subotan]

That was fantastic, thanks a lot

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Though not related directly to the debate here's a nice BBC Documentary Glimpses of real North Korean life behind the facade.

Do you know what "Potemkin village" means? That is what the western journalists will see and not the real North Korean life.

Another thing...

I just heard from the news that North Korea promised to start war when South Korea is not removing some speakers set up near the border. All these recent news remind me that Iraqi PR person who declared that Iraqi forces are winning the war against US even then when US troops were near Baghdad!

I think it's time for the people of North Korea to take matters in their own hands and get rid off Kim and his staff(was planning to say "stupid fat generals" but decided not to say it). It's Peoples "Republic of North Korea" and not "Kim's private property called North Korea" after all!

[Hosakawa Tito]

I watched this show on National Geographic a couple years ago. If you ever get a chance to watch it, do so. The abject, pants wetting, sphincter tightening fear displayed by the North Koreans interviewed, terrorized over getting their lines wrong, is sickening.

[Subotan]

Do you know what "Potemkin village" means? That is what the western journalists will see and not the real North Korean life.

Well obviously. But they still don't make a good show of it

(And we do have that phrase in English )

I just heard from the news that North Korea promised to start war when South Korea is not removing some speakers set up near the border. All these recent news remind me that Iraqi PR person who declared that Iraqi forces are winning the war against US even then when US troops were near Baghdad!

I think it's time for the people of North Korea to take matters in their own hands and get rid off Kim and his staff(was planning to say "stupid fat generals" but decided not to say it). It's Peoples "Republic of North Korea" and not "Kim's private property called North Korea" after all!

Easier said than done. In a Communist system, because of the nature of who controls the power in such states (I.e. the Party not the actual government), any attempt to politically reform North Korea can only come about from within the Party, and from the very top of it at that, which is of course not going to happen under current conditions.* Happily, if the example of the Soviet Union is anything to go by, there's an accelerator effect when the state is politically liberalised. A crack in the cell door will be thrown open by the prisoner, so to speak.

*This is of course discounting the near-suicidal method of open revolt against a Stalinist regime.

I watched this show on National Geographic a couple years ago. If you ever get a chance to watch it, do so. The abject, pants wetting, sphincter tightening fear displayed by the North Koreans interviewed, terrorized over getting their lines wrong, is sickening.

Link's dead.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Link's dead.

Yeah, unfortunately they want one to buy it on dvd. It's well worth watching, but I wouldn't pay for it. Hopefully they'll come to their senses and air it again.

[Azathoth]

I just heard from the news that North Korea promised to start war when South Korea is not removing some speakers set up near the border. All these recent news remind me that Iraqi PR person who declared that Iraqi forces are winning the war against US even then when US troops were near Baghdad!

Baghdad Bob.

[gaelic cowboy]

No your thinking Comical Ali

[Azathoth]

Well, he's Baghdad Bob to us Americans.

[Megas Methuselah]

I thought you were Hungarian or something.

[Azathoth]

Nope, I'm pure, 100% red-blooded American. I believe in Mom and apple pie. I'm proud to be a citizen of this great nation.

[Subotan]

Demonoid et al haven't come up with anything so I probably would have to buy it to watch it

[Subotan]

No! 2-1! And the first half was going so well in the direction of the Marxists!

[al Roumi]

I have been fascinated by North Korea's presence in the World Cup. They really didn't play badly at all against Brazil.

I was wondering how on earth they had kit and boots, or more exactly where it was from. Not all their players have the same boots -but it didn't look like any of their kit was Western made. Chinese products?

Also, i heard on the commentary that the game wouldn't be screened (in North Korea) if it ended in a loss to DPRK -i've since read somewhere that the point (if true!) is moot as South Korea aren't forwarding the TV/satelite feed as part of the recent antagonism.

The 50 odd, identicaly clad, exclusively male DPRK "fans" are also a sight to see.

I'd be very intrigued to see anything y'all might have seen on how the rulers of DPRK are actually treating the event.

So far all i've seen is this: "North Korea celebrate flawless 8-0 win" ...

[Megas Methuselah]

I'm actually more excited about the Iroquois Confederacy's Nationals playing in this summer's 2010 World Lacrosse Championship at Manchester.

The first game is, as far as I can tell, on July 15th: Team England vs Team Iroquois.

Can't wait!

[gaelic cowboy]

I'm actually more excited about the Iroquois Confederacy's Nationals playing in this summer's 2010 World Lacrosse Championship at Manchester.

The first game is, as far as I can tell, on July 15th: Team England vs Team Iroquois.

Can't wait!

Bah feast your eyes on a real mans game

[edyzmedieval]

I have been fascinated by North Korea's presence in the World Cup. They really didn't play badly at all against Brazil.

I was wondering how on earth they had kit and boots, or more exactly where it was from. Not all their players have the same boots -but it didn't look like any of their kit was Western made. Chinese products?

Also, i heard on the commentary that the game wouldn't be screened (in North Korea) if it ended in a loss to DPRK -i've since read somewhere that the point (if true!) is moot as South Korea aren't forwarding the TV/satelite feed as part of the recent antagonism.

The 50 odd, identicaly clad, exclusively male DPRK "fans" are also a sight to see.

I'd be very intrigued to see anything y'all might have seen on how the rulers of DPRK are actually treating the event.

So far all i've seen is this: "North Korea celebrate flawless 8-0 win" ...

Just so you know, some of the DPRK players wore Nike Mercurial Vapor boots.

Read - NIKE. Aka, AMERICAN.

[al Roumi]

Waow I stand corrected, do you have a source to confirm the boots they were wearing?

As to the kit, it is made by an Italian firm, Legea.

There does alos seem to eb some reporting of the match but in (almost certainly) externaly facing English language NK media:

http://www.nkeconwatch.com/category/...otball-soccer/

[Louis VI the Fat]

Whatever has happened to the 'missing' North Korean players at the World Cup?

Defected? Sent home? Locked up in a cellar of the hotel for re-education? Eaten by crocodiles?

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Football's world governing body Fifa on Friday denied rumours that four North Korea players listed as no-shows for their World Cup match against Brazil have gone missing in South Africa. FIFA said it had "no information" that the four players had gone missing, amid reports they may have tried to defect.

The official teamsheet for the North Koreans' 2-1 defeat to Brazil on Tuesday listed substitute goalkeeper Kim Myong-Won, An Chol-Hyok, Kim Kyong-Il and Pak Sung-Hyok as "absent". "We have no information that the players may have disappeared," a FIFA spokesman said. "Our liaison officer with North Korea hasn't signalled anything to us."

The North Korean team is expected to hold a press conference in Johannesburg at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Friday, ahead of their next match against Portugal in Cape Town on Monday.

An official at the South Korean embassy in Johannesburg said it had not picked up any out-of-the-ordinary movements regarding the North Korean squad. Media access to the players from one of the world's most reclusive nations has been extremely restricted since they arrived in South Africa to contest their first World Cup in 44 years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100618...lwc2010prkfifa

Oh, the suspense of it all!