[yQvpyNt3]

Aren't we still technically at war with them?

Oh. Good point.

But the NK government is clearly not desperate. What happens if they do get desperate? Sending their brain-washed cannon fodder across the DMZ?

[patuvammnogoo]

Oh. Good point.

But the NK government is clearly not desperate. What happens if they do get desperate? Sending their brain-washed cannon fodder across the DMZ?

bolded the operative words there cannon fodder implies their troops are good for nothing but dying in the meat grinder. We happen to have an exceptional meat grinder.

[imporesweemo]

bolded the operative words there cannon fodder implies their troops are good for nothing but dying in the meat grinder. We happen to have an exceptional meat grinder.

And we'll get tons of satisfaction out of slaughtering a bunch of brainwashed troops.

[allaboutauto.us]

Aren't we still technically at war with them?

Not really.

Our defense pact with South Korea covers things like mutual defense, but we have never declaired war against the nation of North Korea (hence, it was called a "Peace Action").

However, the nations of North and South Korea are still technically in a state of war. This is currently both the longest war, and the longest cease fire in the world.

[popillio]

And we'll get tons of satisfaction out of slaughtering a bunch of brainwashed troops.

awwwww poor enemy soldiers attacking my citizen soldiers and baying for their blood

its war donkey, its not supposed to be puppy dogs and blowjobs. maybe if enough of them get killed they'll snap out of licking kim jong il's ballsack and effect some change in their government. until then, any one of them that crosses the DMZ with warlike purpose gets several holes blown in him.

[kiosokkn]

Before anybody thinks an invasion by North Korea would just be a slaughter of NK troops, look at the map. So goes Seoul, so goes South Korea. It is the economic engine of the country and residence of about a third of their population. It's only 15 miles or so from the DMZ. The North Koreans have a standing army of about 2 milllion men last time I looked. It would certainly be a bloodbath, mostly South Korean civilians, and they would obliterate Seoul before we could turn them back. This is the threat the NK's have been hanging over our heads for decades. There may be a ceasefire in place, but it is routinely broken.

[defenderfors]

Real heavy duty sanctions will have the effect of laying siege to that country. China's non-support would cover the north wall as well. NK is too weak to engage anyone. So, I think that soime real pressure will do the trick.

China is not going to support stiff sanctions against NK because of their nuclear tests. They will support region stability, which was one of the goals of the six party talks. Furthermore, China does not exactly trust the Obama admin with is increasing "anti-Chinese" stance in the Admin trade war.

When China does not speak is a time to worry, not before or after.

Granted NK has to improve its willingness to be at the peace table, which is what the Obama admin has stated (and I agree), but this Western style direct action will backfire badly. Indirect action, through targeted sanctions not to hurt the people of NK with strong suggestions to China that this will improve the region is the only course to go.

[kHy87gPC]

Yesterday they proposed a meeting for discussing restarting tours to Mount Kumgang. But today they suddenly changed their attitude and denounsed South Korea with the threat of a holy retalitary war. They even said they would bomb out the presidential residence. By the way they want to accept the aid of 10,000 tons of corn from South Korea as it was plannned. Isn't it funny?

http://www.independent.co.kr/data/bb...1263717055.jpg

[aburva.org]

Before anybody thinks an invasion by North Korea would just be a slaughter of NK troops, look at the map. So goes Seoul, so goes South Korea.

You seem to be forgetting something.

In the Korean War, Seoul fell to the North not just once, but twice. And at the end of the war it was virtually destroyed. It took decades to fully rebuild all of the damage from the war.

Assuming that the capture of the capitol would end the war would be ignoring history.

[mArVHDO6]

North Korea is obviously a pariah state with a completely different set of values and goals than the United States and other Western powers. The government of North Korea is hardly interested in putting down it's combative attitude to sing kumbaya with Europe and North America. The government wants to be treated as an equal, and not as the irresponsible, immature, and combative govenment that it is. That they have not deserved to be treated as responsible country is the most salient of opinions we hold about them.

So here we are.

Approaching North Korea is going to have to be dealt with delicately, and sometimes that has to mean taking a hands off approach for a while, so we are not seen as trying to order Kim around. It sounds fruitless to many, I'm sure, but we aren't dealing with rational people here. North Koreans are subdued into a fantastical personality cult around the leader, Kim Jong-il, and he is just soaking it up. Kim is never going to change because he knows he can do almost anything he wants without consequence, while his people are behind him all the way whether they like it or not. Isolation has not worked. Part of the problem is North Korea has found a way out of international isolation by ties with the Eastern powers Russia and China, both of which essentially coddle the ignominious little government of North Korea.

There won't be a solution until either a dramatic change in political climate happens in North Korea, or the largest Eastern powers, Russia and China pressure them into change.

[Adollobdeb]

North Korea will only sign the treaty when it suits them and they believe makes them look good in front of the world. Nothing else matters to the people and to government.