N Korea Explodes Another Atomic Bomb, And Test Fires Two More Missles

The news is reporting that North Korea exploded another atomic weapon today. Russia said it was in the same power range as the bombs dropped on Japan in WWII. Others say the blasts were not that strong. Protests sprang up around the world and the UN has just passed an official condemnation.

This is in direct violation of the agreements that North Korea made recently. Is it just more saber rattling or is the North preparing for something more sinister? Does the US and/or NATO and/or SEATO need to get involved militarily? What does everyone think?

In the end, if it continues we or someone will have to destroy them.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

I think something is going to need to be done at some point. Sanctions and of diplomatic measures don't seem to be working. I can't honestly see NKorea wanting to go to war though. They can't really think they would win. But weirder things have happened.

I think someone is backing them. Russia, maybe? Testing the waters.

Flora

The thing is, Kim Jung-il has totally brainwashed his people. They think he is a deity, literally. They will happily do anything he asks. And he half way believes his own propaganda. His is the fifth largest army in the world. He wouldn't win, but he could cause one hell of a problem.

China's military is interested in testing us too.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Hi flora,

good watch... Russia is one of the countries they have avoided harsher measures against NKorea for a long time. But also the Chinese aren't really interested in a change of the relative strength on the Korean peninsula.
I think all participants will mediate a kind of truce again and Kim will stop his nuclear upgrade for a while - against payment by a lot of cash and relief supplies.
You can say about Kim what you want, but I think he isn't so crazy to pick a quarrel. Far from it! I believe devoutly that he's calculating very exactly what he can do and what he better shouldn't do currrently.
Already for a long time the Kim-dynasty play a weird game - and as yet they won again and again...

Ingo

My opinion is that he is an egomaniac, a pedophile and thinks of himself as a god. (his subjects have NO choice) Those people can easily step over the line and create a catastrophe. He is likely to sell nuclear weapons to terrorists to raise money and that will lead to retaliation in kind against N.Korea. It is more likely in times of economic hardship.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

North Korea threatened military strikes on U.S. and South Korean ships Wednesday and renounced a 1953 truce halting the Korean War.

The threats, followed Seoul's decision to join more than 90 nations in stopping and inspecting ships suspected of transporting banned weapons.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

It would be easier to believe that if there weren't mass graves with thousands of starvation victims in them from the 90s coming to light. The people aren't so much adoring as stunned, cowed, and depleted of any possible well-being or morale. It is a form of brainwashing, I suppose, but I don't think it nets all that much able participation. He does know the difference, too -- that large standing army is very well fed and supplied, unlike the civilian population.

I agree, He is a brutal dictator and his subjects are scared out of their wits.

Slàinte,   

 Patch    

North Korea has threatened nuclear war on the Korean peninsula which shows that he is not thinking. His only delivery method now is by plane.

Since the apparent kidnapping of two reporters, from probably the free side of the border, has not worked so the ante is increased. I saw that A. Gore offered to mediate as he was involved in the media organization that sent them.

Slàinte,   

 Patch    

I spoke with a friend who just recently came back from South Korea and he was very near the North Korean border.

In North Korea families are required to have a picture of Kim Jung-il in their homes which are subject to searches. If any perceived disrespect to his picture (crooked) is found that family is not seen again. But if they find human flesh to be consumed the family is only fined. It is so hard to imagine the state these people have to live in.

Flora

Their living conditions are terrible. They have no means to resist and any peaceful protest is futile. People in the north were required to make pilgrimages to the despot's (father) shrine and when he was ill if they did not show sufficient sorrow, they also disappeared! I suspect the son is as crazy as the father and one day the world will have to crush the country.

If you look at sattelite pictures, the south is lit up at night and the north is very dark. It shows the disparity between the two countries.

Slàinte,    

Patch