"All-New" North Korea is Best Korea!

[matsuki]

[Russell]

Generally experts say that the best sign something serious is going to happen in Korea (rather than yammering and posturing) is when families and non-critical personal are pulled out.

Voice of America's Asia Bureau editor/reporter, Steve Herman, (@W7VOA Oct 21) is reporting:

Tonight's Nelson Report (a reputable newsletter on NE Asia): Removing personal assets from #ROK now advisable, say sr. admin. officials.

VOA.jpg

Read that stuff in the voice of Alek Jones...

Much better entertainment value...

Except that this is not Alex Jones.

And there are other signs that the US is preparing an attack.

US preparing to put nuclear bombers on 24-hour ready alert notice amid rising tensions with North Korea

[Coligny]

Ok, so now you understand why I prefer the Alex Jones version....

I hope...

[Takechanpoo]

Japan Wants War With North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Not Dialogue, New Poll Shows
By Cristina Silva

53.9% of the Japanese public support using force against North Korea

newsweekbakareporter.jpg

http://www.newsweek.com/japanese-want-w ... ows-715960

this bitchs report is based on this jiji presss poll

時事通信の１１月の世論調査で日米両国が北朝鮮にどう対応すべきかを尋ねたところ、「圧力重視」を支持する人は５３．９％で、「対話重視」の３９．４％を上回った。

https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2017111700844&g=use

this stupid woman reporter intentionally or unintentionally replaced 圧力(pressure) with force/war.

[matsuki]

Would you really be surprised if her statement was right? I've heard plenty of the local jiji's calling for Kitachosen to be bombed to high hell.

[Takechanpoo]

appears like someone cant even distinguish between the anekdote and the general will.

[BigInJapan]

Japan Wants War With North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Not Dialogue, New Poll Shows
By Cristina Silva

53.9% of the Japanese public support using force against North Korea

This was being covered on the Japanese wide shows this morning (Fri. 11/24).
I saw that they mentioned that 圧力重視 (emphasis on pressure) was mistranslated as "using force" (武力 = force/armed might).
Then, another talking head on the show said that the Japan Times which is in English printed an article using "pressure tactics", so there is no way it could be a mistranslation (in Newsweek), and that it is FAKE NEWS, to stir up anti-Japan sentiment, etc.

Japan Times Nov 18, 2017: 54% support pressure tactics over dialogue for North Korea: Jiji poll

[Grumpy Gramps]

Can you apply pressure if you don't have the force to back it up? "Do as we say or else we will fart in your general direction / throw cotton balls at you" etc. is not exactly applying pressure, is it?

[Mike Oxlong]

Can you apply pressure if you don't have the force to back it up? "Do as we say or else we will fart in your general direction / throw cotton balls at you" etc. is not exactly applying pressure, is it?

I think pressure is generally in the form of economic sanctions. Problem is, even if the US and Japan manage to get their friends to go along, China and Russia are wildcards.

[TennoChinko]

Japan detects possible North Korea launch
Published: 5:21 pm, Tuesday, 28 November 2017
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/as ... aunch.html

Japan has detected radio signals which indicate North Korea may be preparing a new missile launch.

The radio signals pointed to the North Korean Army's possible launch of a ballistic missile "within the next few days," the Kyodo news agency reported, citing a Japanese government source.

A South Korean government source, cited by Yonhap, said the military intelligence agencies of Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have in recent days picked up radio signals such as those that had been detected before a launch.

When asked about this information, Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Robert Manning said only that Washington continued to watch Pyongyang closely, according to the South Korean agency.

The reports follow a warning from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies which says a missile test by Kim Jong-un regime was likely within the next 30 days, according to Asia Times.

The US think tank claimed the most likely date was December 17, which is the anniversary of the death of Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, who died in 2011.

In September North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test when it fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

[matsuki]

Any reason they (as in the US/Japan/SK) don't prepare and shoot that fucker down before it leaves the peninsula?

[wagyl]

I can think of two.

While these tests give North Korea an idea as to the extent and the limits of their current capabilities, it also gives exactly the same information to other nations monitoring the results -- in fact possibly more so, since the results are more likely to be reported without fudging. They can see just what stage of capability North Korea has reached.

Also, it sometimes helps if you don't provide the enemy with a reason to spin your actions as "an act of aggression on our manifest sovereignty." If someone looks like they are bursting for a fight, you don't provide them with provocation. Of course, I have exactly the same advice for North Korea.

I think it is important to think about North Korea's actions in the environment of the Kim regime. When your main power base is the fear of your own populace, you have to continue to act strong. There are plenty of people quietly waiting for any sign of weakness. The only thing keeping them back is their own fear.
This is, of course, another reason why other countries should avoid writing the Kim regime off as stupid, or as little rocket man, or as short and fat. That just leads to you ignoring the subtle acts of cunning, and the more important (to Kim) domestic imperative while concentrating on the international stance.

So, that makes two of you who don't understand diplomacy. But at least Matsuki asks questions, and sometimes listens to the answers. I see no evidence of that from Mr Bigly.

[Russell]

Well, they don't have much choice, do they?

The last nuclear test was such a great success, that the only option they now have is to create havoc outside Best Korea...

[Russell]

Any reason they (as in the US/Japan/SK) don't prepare and shoot that fucker down before it leaves the peninsula?

[matsuki]

I can think of two.

While these tests give North Korea an idea as to the extent and the limits of their current capabilities, it also gives exactly the same information to other nations monitoring the results -- in fact possibly more so, since the results are more likely to be reported without fudging. They can see just what stage of capability North Korea has reached.

Reasonable stance but do we continue until they reach a competent level of potential nuke delivery?

Also, it sometimes helps if you don't provide the enemy with a reason to spin your actions as "an act of aggression on our manifest sovereignty." If someone looks like they are bursting for a fight, you don't provide them with provocation. Of course, I have exactly the same advice for North Korea.

I wasn't suggesting bombing the launch site but shooting it down....preventing another missile flyover or worse, would be defensive in nature. Not that the NK leadership wouldn't spin it as aggression but the reason I asked the question in the first place, we have time to prepare and that should include warning to the regime. (not Trump threats but an expressed will to defend against missile launches in this direction)

[wagyl]

Maybe you didn't mean to say

before it leaves the peninsula

but instead meant to say "once it is outside of anywhere that could in any way be potentially regarded as North Korea's exclusion zone"
That seems to be what you are saying now.

But really, you have to say exactly what you mean in these situations. This whole environment is tuned to reading the worst into whatever the other side says (and also what it omits to say).

Anyway, they already launched.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nort ... DS2MB?il=0

[matsuki]

Maybe you didn't mean to say

before it leaves the peninsula

but instead meant to say "once it is outside of anywhere that could in any way be potentially regarded as North Korea's exclusion zone"
That seems to be what you are saying now.

But really, you have to say exactly what you mean in these situations. This whole environment is tuned to reading the worst into whatever the other side says (and also what it omits to say).

Anyway, they already launched.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nort ... DS2MB?il=0

I suppose your approach would better show a defensive mindset.

Where is this "East Sea" the South Korean news keep speaking of?

[wagyl]

When the alternative is to have an offensive mindset, in other words being the aggressor, I think yes, my approach is to display a defensive mindset.

Of course what I display, and what my true motives are, may differ

[Taro Toporific]

The intercontinental missile, the Hwasong 14 on its mobile launcher was the biggest hit at the Best Korea military parade.
abcnews.go.com...north-korea-stages-military-parade-eve-olympics...

fun-time.jpg

But the party animals of the Nork elders having tea party while ICBMs roll by is the money shot, hee, hee.

Nork-old-fart-teatime.jpg

[Grumpy Gramps]

I admit that I am pretty impressed by the way uncle Kim handles the "crisis" atm. Sends his little sister at al to the Olympics despite all the sanctions and invites Moon for talks. Kim not crawling up to the UN like a begger, but Moon has to crawl to him and he goes nowhere.

That's spitting in the face of the UN and the USA, and they can't do jack shit about it; they wanted to talk, that's what they always said, no?

Cool

[TennoChinko]

[matsuki]

[Russell]

[legion]

kind of funny watching CNN turn cartwheels rather than admit the Donald just did something worthwhile.

[Russell]

kind of funny watching CNN turn cartwheels rather than admit the Donald just did something worthwhile.

Well, let's wait what Trump has to tweet in the next 24 hours about Kim. He's kind of notorious for changing his mind, isn't he? And let's hope he doesn't confuse Kim with Trudeau.

On a positive note (from the viewpoint of China), Trump has started a significant power shift in the region by announcing the end of US-South Korean military exercises (without even consulting South-Korea about it). That may lead to a power vacuum, and power vacuums often lead to war.

So, let's see what comes from all of this.

[Wage Slave]

kind of funny watching CNN turn cartwheels rather than admit the Donald just did something worthwhile.

Well, let's wait what Trump has to tweet in the next 24 hours about Kim. He's kind of notorious for changing his mind, isn't he? And let's hope he doesn't confuse Kim with Trudeau.

On a positive note (from the viewpoint of China), Trump has started a significant power shift in the region by announcing the end of US-South Korean military exercises (without even consulting South-Korea about it). That may lead to a power vacuum, and power vacuums often lead to war.

So, let's see what comes from all of this.

Exactly. There are reasons to be fearful.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-negotiating-style-is-pure-art-of-the-moron

Russia, Iran, Syria, and other bad actors want to thank you, Mr. President. You sent the clearest of signals that sanctions regimes, inspections, and verified denuclearization are no longer relevant in our brave new era of nationalist populist strongmen and Michael Bay knockoff videos.

Evidently, all the bad guys have to do is kiss your ample ass long enough and shower you with enough superficial praise and they can play you like the trifling intellectual lightweight you most certainly are. So, thank you for that reminder.

[legion]

My theory is Kim and his sister do not want to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder, and Kim doesn't want to spend his life walking around factories pointing at things. His dad died an alcoholic, the only fun he gets is watching things blow up every now and then, and his sister is bored with herding men in big hats.

[Russell]

My theory is Kim and his sister do not want to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder, and Kim doesn't want to spend his life walking around factories pointing at things. His dad died an alcoholic, the only fun he gets is watching things blow up every now and then, and his sister is bored with herding men in big hats.

Interesting theory.

But now he has no other alternative than to meet with Donny on a regular basis for the foreseeable future. Dunno what is better...

[Russell]

Kim Jong-un: The story of the boy dictator who bested the US president

Kim Jong-un was never destined to rule North Korea. It was never preordained he would be the one to accelerate the isolated nation’s nuclear weapons program, and force the US president, Donald Trump, to sit down for a meeting of equals.

But through a combination of ruthless ambition and luck, Kim achieved what no other leader of North Korea has, recognition as the head of a nuclear power and international statesman. The boy dictator went head-to-head with Trump and won.

[...]

“The goal for Kim Jong-un now is to get economic support, in terms of financial flows, blunting sanctions, and attracting investment in the special economic zones,” said Scott Snyder, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. There are likely to be summits with more world leaders, including Russian president Vladimir Putin and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, to “further Kim’s standing as an international statesman”, Snyder added.

Even if Kim agrees to dismantle rocket testing facilities, as Trump has claimed, it would probably only scratch the surface, according to Snyder.

There are signs that Washington’s “maximum pressure” policy is already cracking under Kim’s diplomatic push. China, which accounts for over 90% of trade with the North, is reportedly relaxing its enforcement of sanctions and South Korean companies are eager to begin investing.

All of this has validated Kim’s strategy of taking big gambles, since each one has so far paid off. Kim gained legitimacy in his meeting with Trump, while the US walked away with a vague commitment that North Korea has said before, only to reverse course later. The document Trump and Kim signed, in the midst of a great deal of theatrics, confirmed positions North Korea has been espousing for years.

More

So much for dilettante diplomacy...

[Russell]