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S Korea boost security after North warns of more attacks

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...what else is there?

Stupidity.

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SuperLib at 01:33 AM JST - 26th November Maybe it's all just a play for his son. Create an international >incident, suddenly put him in the spotlight to look like he's the one >making decisions, then watch as the people throw their weight behind >their newest "savior from US invasion."

It would be nice if that were the case. Unfortunately it is more likely that the KPA had taken far more control of the government than ever before.

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Maybe it's all just a play for his son. Create an international incident, suddenly put him in the spotlight to look like he's the one making decisions, then watch as the people throw their weight behind their newest "savior from US invasion."

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smithinjapan at 09:56 AM JST - 25th November Ossan: "The US and SKorea should carry out their drills in the Yellow Sea and disregard any requests from China to hold them elsewhere...unless China is prepared to crack down on North Korea." Good idea, Ossan! Anger the only nation that has historically stood >behind NK, and the only nation who can potentially calm this storm. You >clearly haven't thought about this very much.

Says the NKOrea supporter who has advocated nothing but sppeasement for the last few years. No smith, I've thought about this probably much longer than you have. And he results today are exactly when I havbe always stated they would be, a NKorea that not only continues but increases it's status as a threat to peace in he region. Of course in the same way you've always advocated appeasing NKOrea, you now advocate appeasing China rather than making them responsible for what they created and what they're supporting.

China WILL step in and help, particularly if things look like they're >going to get worse;

Sure. Give me evidence to support this wild conjecture. What has China done since 1951?

but HOW they help will depend on how countries like Japan, the US, and >SK deal with CHINA. 'Demanding' for example, that they 'must' restrain >NKorea may not start off on the best footing.

No, that's usually the only thing that can make a dictatorship get off it;s rear end. Your approach ensures that North Korea will keep on killing South Koreans and China will just say "everybody calm down".

Likewise what Ossan suggests is one of the worst possible moves you >could do; indirectly threatening them by holding drills they ask you not >to, etc

No, that's the ONLY way that China will uindrstand that the United States, South Korea, Japan and all other nations affected by the lunatic North Korean regime are serious. Or do you prefer that North Korea just keep on killing South Koreans?

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China doesn't want 2 things on it's border:

1) A large and vicious war, complete with floods of refugees and large numbers of US troops milling about.

2) A stable, unified Korea - strong economically and militarily, with strong ties to the US.

So we get this tightrope walk, trying to prop up Pyongyang while attempting to manage to it's erratic and beligerant behavior.

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lesgrande at 05:52 PM JST - 25th November Some of you are led so easily. You don't see how you are being >manipulated so that an Iraq-type coalition can be built up again.

And some people never learned enough history to know that the "coalition" was the United Nations and it fought a war back in 1950/51. Well before "Iraq" ever became an issue.

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=The real target is Iran right now. NK is a diversion, a (nuclear) trigger for something bigger. Why do you think NK gets so many second chances, US nuclear tech, thorn in the side of Japan, SK, US, and China. =The normal logic would be that something would have been done about this situation years ago, -but obviously that is not the case. Even a border cannot be agreed upon and adhered to.

I am obviously against the Globalists use of NK and the torture against the people of NK. All you Pro-debt Libs and warmongers should be ashamed for heating up this conflict that endangers everyone in this area and enslaves the Korean people. What is going to happen when they burst the NK hot-air bubble?

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Very, very true, the Korean peninsula does not have one drop of oil, but I do not think the USA wants to start a new war front, not just yet. We still have to pull out of that mess in Iraq, then Afghanistan. North Korea is a joke, and China needs to understand if they keep helping this little, evil country, DPRK, China too must pay a price.

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"There will be no action taken by the U.S. ... one thing is missing: OIL!"

Now there's a comment that's really offensive. I mean, the U.S. saved South Korea from the North in 1950-53, losing thousands of soldiers, and there wasn't any oil there back then. Sheesh.

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apecNetworks;"There is one odd thing about this incident. Most people are saying the DPRK started this altercation, but that would mean that they waited, and allowed both the G-20 Meeting and APEC Forum to conclude before attacking."

Some times I wonder if people think before writing!

Can you imagine how high the military alert was at the time of these events? Can you think of the response that would have come in the way of return fire and probably not just form the SK forces seeing Chinese leaders, Russian leaders and USA leaders were there!

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I think all of this started over breakfast a weekend or so ago. While slurping peaches and brandy Kim the elder said, "So son, are you ready for some fun next week"?

"Sure dad, what are we going to do?"

"Well we've been out of the news for a while. so I thought we'd lob some shells into the south"

"Gee dad, that does sound like fun, can I bring my school friends over to watch as we push the buttons?"

"No problem, we'll make a party out of it, then watch as the rest of the world hasn't a clue as to how to deal with us".

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"Why not just get it over with and make him a 10 Star General."

Because he hasn't yet equalled his Dad's golf record of 38 under par. And before you cynics say you don't believe it, just remember that all of his bodyguards witnessed it!

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The son, who is in late 20s, was made a four-star general and nominated to high-ranking Workers’ Party posts in the first steps toward eventually succeeding his father.

Why not just get it over with and make him a 10 Star General.

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smithinjapan at 09:56 AM JST - 25th November

Good idea, Ossan! Anger the only nation that has historically stood behind NK, and the only nation who can potentially calm this storm. You clearly haven't thought about this very much. China WILL step in and help, particularly if things look like they're going to get worse; but HOW they help will depend on how countries like Japan, the US, and SK deal with CHINA. 'Demanding' for example, that they 'must' restrain NKorea may not start off on the best footing. Likewise what Ossan suggests is one of the worst possible moves you could do; indirectly threatening them by holding drills they ask you not to, etc

Will China Get Tough on Kim?

...When I spoke with Korea analyst Gordon Flake this week following the North Korean shelling of the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, he made the reasonable point that China’s failure to come down harder on Pyongyang following the sinking of the South Korean ship the Cheonan earlier this year may actually have encouraged this latest act of aggression... ...More immediately, the United States and South Korea have also announced their intention to conduct a joint military exercise in the Yellow Sea in response to the North Korean shelling, a drill that looks set to include the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. China has today said it’s concerned by the move, although in more measured terms than it used in August when the PLA warned of long-term damage to US-China ties if another drill went ahead... ...There’s an ongoing debate about how much leverage China really has, a discussion complicated by the fact that Kim Jong-il is far from rational and so unlikely to respond to traditional forms of pressure in predictable ways. Still, the fact that he went calling not once, but twice to China this year—presumably in part to discuss the succession issue—suggests that Beijing does at least have his ear. Even if he doesn’t want to listen to what’s being said…...

Source: The Diplomat

Obama send a Carrier because many people think that China defense of North Korea encouraged Kim to attack again, that's why China can't complain like the last time. I am not the only one that have doubts that China can stop North Korea if they try, many diplomats and analyst prefer not make any prediction. And no offense to your but I already lost my faith in the PRC's commitment with peace in Asia.

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Correction, four deaths.

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Look at it this way...If they wanted to start a war, they would have shelled Seoul. Instead, they shelled a small, militarily unimportant, fishing village resulting in only a couple of deaths. Just another tantrum by a child who doesn't want to be ignored.

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tclh, popularity at home, and easing of the Dear Leader's youngest son into firm control of the reins of power. (Nothing like a short foreign adventure to show off a new weapon and to cement public opinion.)

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I can only list four likely reasons for this NK attack: want to continue nuclear talk in its own way, showing dissatisfaction with aids from SK,anger at recent joint military exercises between US /SK, seeking attention/jealousy...what else is there?

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Some of you are led so easily. You don't see how you are being manipulated so that an Iraq-type coalition can be built up again. We all know what a beautiful situation that turned into, and yeah if you're from the states it has affected the economy and your taxes, as well as the overall safety for everyone globally.

From the Korea Times-

"It was business as usual for the foreign business community in Seoul, Wednesday, a day after the North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island rattled markets around the world.

Jean-Jacques Grauhar, secretary-general of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK), said there is always a big discrepancy between reality in Korea and the images on international news channels, which are seen by the head offices abroad.

``In the streets of Seoul, it is business as usual... But if you look at Fox News and CNN, it looks like the whole Peninsula is on fire. It is difficult for the headquarters abroad to assess the situation when they see these dramatic images,’’ he told The Korea Times, Wednesday."

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To Tclh,

The ROK Corvette was inconclusive, and the evidence presented suspicious. Before jumping to any conclusions as this thread, a second look is necessary. On close analysis, there are loose ends not explained yet.

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There will be no action taken by the U.S. ... one thing is missing: OIL!

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@apecNetworks: do you forget that both China and Russia were at G-20? I attempt to think that G-20 meeting which boost the image of SK so high that NK feel so low , so jealous, so miserable, so mad...hence this crazy attack.

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Why have they not ruled out NK use of thermobarics as per the article? I wonder what set them thinking along these lines? Is this another example of NK subtly wanting to show how modern their weapons really are?

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The 6parties talks can be converted into a war crimes tribunal very easily.

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Any top flight attorney knows, criminal prosecutions require motive and opportunity.

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There is one odd thing about this incident. Most people are saying the DPRK started this altercation, but that would mean that they waited, and allowed both the G-20 Meeting and APEC Forum to conclude before attacking. They would hurt the ROK investment opportunities if they had disrupted the G-20 Meeting. Something is amiss since ROK have much more to lose if the G-20 Meeting was disrupted. Another interesting puzzle in the East Asia.

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It is surely in China's interest (for the time being) to have North Korea semi-dependent like that. Semi-starving, so that they appreciate the food scraps that are thrown to them while they bark at anyone who approaches.

China will likely not listen to pleas from the US or Obama, but they would probably come down heavily on NK if the US started to beef up its presence in the Yellow Sea and China Sea. China does not want NK to attract too much unwelcome attention to the area.

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It is entirely up to SK what actions should be taken and what role, if any, we or any other nations are to play in them. America and China have zero authority to act unilaterally against NK in this situation.

RR

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We should all be grateful to China for always trying to calm the NKs down, for making us affordable merchandise, for cooking great food and for educating us with its marvellous history and culture.

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Obama doesn't exactly project the kind of gravitas and genuine concern the situation needs. The Chinese recognize he is more interested in focusing on changing the US, repealing the American Revolution, and redistributing wealth. South Koreans will be left to twist in the wind if things escalate.

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The US should announce a new gigantic arms package for Taiwan and see if that gets China to move on N. Korea. If not, then arm Taiwan to the teeth.

Right on!!

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It's a good chance for China to show leadership in the region. But they haven't as yet and so the likes of Japan, Sth Korea and Taiwan look for the US to provide stability. China may not like the U.S.'s presence in the area but they don't plug those political gaps with its neighbours. And it's all too easy to blame the US for the current arrangement.

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@skipthesong: Besides hot girls, they have the best Chinese art treasures in the world, and some wonderful chefs and food.

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The US should announce a new gigantic arms package for Taiwan and see if that gets China to move on N. Korea. If not, then arm Taiwan to the teeth.

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Agree with smithinjapan, it's people like Ossan who say they're concerned bout what happens in the region then advocate the very actions which will lead to greater trouble

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China is behind all of this, there paranoia has clouded their judgment.

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China is frustrated over the US support for Taiwan and uses North Korea as a counterweight." should we or should we drop them? What's in Taiwan that they want so much anyway - hot girls?

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How about putting oil embargo on China until they agree to put oil embargo on NK?

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"It's in China's best interest to calm North Korea down regardless of what everyone else does. As to why they aren't doing that, well I guess that's the question..."

SuperLib: Trying to understand Chinese government motives and thinking is impossible.

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well guys, you all talk about being nice or being tough... this is too close for me to be comfortable. how many second chances do you give NK? they just sunk a ship a few months ago and now this and we are all trying to figure out what to do about China... I'm getting out of here

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China is frustrated over the US support for Taiwan and uses North Korea as a counterweight. Appealing to China for cooperation is an exercise in futility.

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It's in China's best interest to calm North Korea down regardless of what everyone else does. As to why they aren't doing that, well I guess that's the question...

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correction- Koreas must change their thinking ways.

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Koreas have must change their thinking.

They must think peace and imagine no countries,just a brotherhood of asia,will be fine.

Korea as host of unity asian games2014 in 4 years, should be more pro-active for peace,harmony and unity in koreas.

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Ossan: "The US and SKorea should carry out their drills in the Yellow Sea and disregard any requests from China to hold them elsewhere...unless China is prepared to crack down on North Korea."

Good idea, Ossan! Anger the only nation that has historically stood behind NK, and the only nation who can potentially calm this storm. You clearly haven't thought about this very much.

China WILL step in and help, particularly if things look like they're going to get worse; but HOW they help will depend on how countries like Japan, the US, and SK deal with CHINA. 'Demanding' for example, that they 'must' restrain NKorea may not start off on the best footing. Likewise what Ossan suggests is one of the worst possible moves you could do; indirectly threatening them by holding drills they ask you not to, etc.

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porter-- But think about who has MORE influence, especially right now. It makes sense that they're talking to China about it.

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Is the U.S. behind South Korea conducting military drills near a disputed border? I would imagine the U.S. - having nearly 30,000 troops in South Korea - would be fully aware of when and where South Korea conducts its military drills.

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iforgot: I guess you don't understand why the USS George Washington is being sent to South Korea.

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Although China should be spoken to regarding what occured, still JPN, USA and SK need to handle it themselves, as for Kim's reward for his murder he now get's a boat show (paid for by the victims) he'll enjoy that as he has no further plan of action at this time . Next time NK should be hit hard !

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That aircraft carrier should cruise as close as possible to NK, then we'll see if the NK army/navy has the b*lls to pick a fight.

Grow up.

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U.S. says China must restrain N Korea

Because the US has no influence over NKorea whatsoever.

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China should take part in the drills

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The US and SKorea should carry out their drills in the Yellow Sea and disregard any requests from China to hold them elsewhere...unless China is prepared to crack down on North Korea.

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That aircraft carrier should cruise as close as possible to NK, then we'll see if the NK army/navy has the b*lls to pick a fight.

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