War between South and North Korea

[Emoni]

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately, and even though I have my personal safety in regards to living in Tokyo within North Korean missile range, I mostly worry about the numerous friends who I met in Japan or South Korea who are Korean living in Seoul.

The noticeable difference personally between this current situation and previous ones is that most of the Korean friends I know are actually sincerely worried this time, rather than just brushing it off as usual saber rattling by North Korea. Moreover, South Korea's government is out for justice over the torpedo attack. The US is strongly behind them, and currently negotiations are going on between the US and China, and plans are getting set up to go before the UN security council. North Korea has stated that if anything is done, in any form, that they will attack. 6 minutes ago approximately trade was cut between South and North with US support (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100524/ap_on_re_as/as_skorea_ship_sinks) This may be the most dangerous move, and if China pushes any sort of sanctions, North Korea may see itself backed against a wall for the first time in decades and retaliate like a cornered (crazed) animal.

I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this, hopefully a few more level headed less emotional people than I can calm me down a bit maybe. As I see it, this is a VERY dangerous time, and war could break out at the drop of a pin, and millions of lives would be lost.

 

[Hezam]

It's very dangerous this time,more than before..
The North Korean government is crazy,they threat the south by nuke weapon !
I think all the countries ( All the world ) must move know to stop the north terrorists,It's the biggest mistake to let North Korea make the Nuclear weapons.
Anyway i don't think it's gonna get worse,but in the long run the north will be more dangerous to the world.
I am really upset why the people wake up too late to find them selves under threat.
I Hope nothing gonna happen...seriously it's the worst time to start such idiocy.

 

[Half-n-Half]

I'm right there with you Emoni. I have serious concerns that fighting could very well break out between North and South Korea and the consequences of that. I think South Korea was right in cutting trade with North Korea. Attacking a naval ship with a torpedo that kills 46 crew members is an act of war. There's simply no excuse for it. I'm not so sure how long a war with North Korea would last, though. I'm sure they could easily overrun the DMZ, but it would basically be the world vs. North Korea. I highly doubt China would want to back them up in that situation. To be honest I'm kind of selfish and hope this doesn't affect my study abroad experience in September

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I agree with Emoni. I have a dark foreboding about this crisis.

Perhaps North Korea will back down. I don't think they could ever 'win' an all out war as they threaten without full support of the Chinese, and I still am of the opinion that Kim Jung Il and company are more concerned about survival that anything else. So there's hope.

But then again...

It seriously worries me. I do not want my friends to die because of the lunacy of a few old men.

 

[Emoni]

I do not want my friends to die because of the lunacy of a few old men.

Now there is a sentence that could apply to far too many situations in the past...

 

[karmaEffect]

The world is already in such a turmoil. We certainly do not need this right now.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

NK threatens to fire at loudspeakers

This kind of talk does not help.

 

[Haruspex]

North Korea resorting to nukes would effectively mean that the whole of their upper echelon would be up before court for international war crimes, either that or they would simply be lynched, a great number of them. Either way, this conflict has been going on for far too long and the current generation in charge owes it to the coming generations to sort this **** out, even at the cost of lives. North Korea needs the **** roundhouse kicked out of it.

 

[Emoni]

NK threatens to fire at loudspeakers
This kind of talk does not help.

Oh wow... that is really not good. :/ There will now be military tests by South Korea and the US as well. This is escalating very fast, and not by the North Korea side this time as much as South Korea emotionally and militarily. Someone is looking for a fight this time it feels like... and they might get it at the costs of millions of lives.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Seoul to redefine NK as main enemy

Apparently SK is naming NK as the 'main enemy' in their defense white paper again, something they dropped several years back, and rumour has it that NK told its troops to be prepared for fullscale war.

No one where I live has even mentioned this yet. In the most recent conversation I had about Asia, I had to to try to convince the guy that NK is far more of an immediate threat than China. People here don't seem to realize what a nutball the glorious leader is.

 

[Emoni]

The North just severed all ties completely going by the recent reports. If you look at the news casts things are getting VERY emotional and flared, this is probably one of the most dangerous times since the cease fire was put forth, and while there have been skirmishes before, it didn't involve nukes, and such unstable behavior.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

N. Korea is a mad dog that should have had its teeth pulled long ago.

 

[Hezam]

N. Korea is a mad dog that should have had its teeth pulled long ago.

North Korean Government

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

The teeth all belong to the government.

I have nothing against Korean people, whether they live in the north or south.

 

[Emoni]

The teeth all belong to the government.

I have nothing against Korean people, whether they live in the north or south.

Even if they are pressing the button to fire chemical weapons at Seoul? The line between government, military and people isn't so clear cut as people would like to think.

 

[AJBryant]

The thing is, if it weren't for concerns over what China would do, SK would have kicked NK's arse YEARS ago.

 

[Emoni]

Um, no I don't think so. China really isn't quite in the picture of a concern like before, and if the South reacted, China likely wouldn't be involved and has little to gain by doing so, especially on the international stage.

The problem is that if anything breaks out. Seoul and millions die instantly. There is no way to protect that city due to proximity, and the amount of arms ready to fire.

 

[Hezam]

Enjoy your stay Emoni,It's not dangerous anymore....
^____________________*

 

[avicus]

North Korean government = Autocratic despot, embezzlement of aid money, total repression of media freedom. Just to mention a few.

 

[Hezam]

I feel sorry for the North Korean people,they are the victims.

 

[Emoni]

I feel sorry for the North Korean people,they are the victims.

When the "victims" are taking part in possibly killing millions, and supporting a government of their own oppression... my sympathy only goes so far. Victims, yes, supporters... yes.

Oh, and your new name tag picture is frighteningly hypnotic lol