North Korea ready to fire rockets at U.S. to "settle accounts" (border, Obama)

[legalsea]

I admit, when the first dictator of North Korea died, I hoped his son would be more reasonable. Alas, that did not work out.

When the son died, I hoped the grandson would be more reasonable. Yet, he seems to be the craziest yet.

Of course, how much 'power' does said Leader really have? Is he a puppet of the military? Is this a ploy by the military to convince the general public that the 'military first' policy (regarding food, housing, etc) continue?

If the grandson is truly in power (i.e., the military took a personal oath to serve said son, and by gosh they intend to honor said oath down to the bowels of Hades), then things do not look well.

Of course, for 50 years the USA and South Korea have been developing defensive measures (for there has probably been no plan for South Korea to 'invade' the North), while the North has been devising invasion plans all along. Yet, I bet the North has been betting on the Chinese government to come to their rescue if things go 'south' (like when McArthur did his famous end-around), while the Chinese may not do this time.

By the by: I imagine that the Obama administration has been handling the situation about as well as one could hope. Indeed, I imagine that President Bush (either one) would have done basically the same thing. I would be interested in hearing from any posters about what, if they were president at this very moment, they would do. Stay the course? Change things up? What?

[pch1013]

This might very well be due to a power struggle within the North Korean political/military establishment. Li'l Kim's saber-rattling could just be his way of showing the top brass who's boss. The worst thing the US and its allies could do at this point is to respond to his provocations in kind, since in all likelihood he's just having a temper tantrum for domestic consumption that is merely aimed at consolidating his power. Having been educated in the West, he can't possibly be daft enough to believe his own propaganda.

[NoJiveMan]

Too bad Bush still isn't president, he'd know what to do.

President George W. Bush Says "Bring 'em on" - YouTube

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by elan

What accounts? He's nuts.

I think he's talking about his subsciption to Maxim magazine... He didn't pay up and now he's going to miss the latest issue with a pictorial of now all grown-up Topanga from "Boy Meets World".

He also didn't settle his cable account bill, and he's angry he's going to miss next weeks season premiere of "Game of Thrones" after they cancelled his HBO service...

He's going to settle these accounts--at any cost!

[ScoPro]

While Bush, Clinton, or Obama could certainly kick the Nork's butt and crush their military, we couldn't bring their country up from the stone age - nor would we be able to rebuild South Korea from the rubble.

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

While Bush, Clinton, or Obama could certainly kick the Nork's butt and crush their military, we couldn't bring their country up from the stone age - nor would we be able to rebuild South Korea from the rubble.

Belgium could probably deal with North Korea as a militray threat, but that's the thing, isn't it? North Korea is the ultimate in toxic assets - nobody wants to be the occupying force with responsibility for that.

[jmqueen]

He's simply employing an age-old tactic to keep his people under thumb. Scaring the crap out of them so they continue to rely on him to protect them.

[softblueyz]

Kim Jong and his army have been spotted on their way to attack America.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

Belgium could probably deal with North Korea as a militray threat, but that's the thing, isn't it? North Korea is the ultimate in toxic assets - nobody wants to be the occupying force with responsibility for that.

Well that's why the Chinese keep propping up that regime, yet don't want to take any responsibilty when the Kim family starts making belligerent threats. But, the possiblity of the North Korean regime collapsing is scary for the whole region--and China and South Korea don't really want to deal with risking their current economic growth with dealing with millions of starving North Korean refugees. That's the real fear for North Korea.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by softblueyz

Kim Jong and his army have been spotted on their way to attack America.

Well, at least that was better than the plot of the new Red Dawn film.