http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/101128/world/nkorea_skorea_military_shelter YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AFP) - Artillery fire was heard near a South Korean border island on Sunday soon after people there were ordered to take shelter in bunkers, YTN television reported. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/101128/world/international_us_korea_north1 North Korea places missiles in Yellow Sea: report North Korea has placed surface-to-surface missiles on launch pads in the Yellow Sea, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT It said also the reclusive state had moved surface-to-air missiles near frontline areas. The reports came as the United States and South Korea began joint military exercises in waters west of the Korean Peninsula in the face of opposition by regional giant China and threats of "consequences" from Pyongyang. South Korea also ordered residents of an island shelled by North Korea last Tuesday to evacuate to shelters, a Reuters witness said. "They ordered people here to move to shelters saying there is an emergency situation," the witness said, adding there were no details available. I'm guessing its just precautionary, but it seems like both sides are taking action to get ready to at least make it seem like they are ready to get at it. I don't think anything will come of this as it would be suicide for NKorea to do anything, unless Kim Jong Il wants to go down in a fight.
Strange how none of the news outlets are carrying any coverage, you would think that the possibility of war would be meaty news.
I think given the holidays and this being Saturday night, most news rooms are empty, and they are not likely to cover a major issue without looking into it.
You all kidding yourselves if you think the Chinese are going to sit around while war breaks out on their doorstep. They'll try to be all art of war and stuff in helping the North Koreans to start but if there's any sign that the North could fall they'll come rushing in like water and try to overrun the South. The only way that won't happen is if you give China an incentive not to get involved like threatening to militarize Japan and Taiwan or threatening a western embargo. Something that would gigantically screw with Chinese long term interests.
Seriously? You equate that to us threatening nuclear attacks? Leaving all options on the table when you are dealing with a nation who has a stated goal of destroying South Korea is not the same thing as threatening a nuclear attack. Also, I figured the context of me mentioning multilateral cooperation among the Asian powers in dealing with NK (multilateralism) would give you some idea of what period of time I was talking about. I did have a hiccup when I only mentioned ASEAN and didn't mention it along with the other major Asian powers when brining up the US policy of multilateralism in Asia and especially in dealing with NK.
Among most other nations, nuclear posturing may be just that, posturing. However, when it comes to the U.S., the posturing could very well turn into reality. Like everybody else, U.S. adversaries know it remains the only nation in the world that has actually used the nuke, twice. The history of U.S. warmongering doesn't help, either.
I know. Unfortunately, I have an avid interest in the region, so I tend to want to post in these threads. Having to interact with people like wnes, who sees China as Right About Anything, NO MATTER WHAT! seems to be something one is required to endure when that country comes up in a discussion on any topic.
Depends on how one defines "victor". Could South Korea in a direct conflict with North Korea crush North Korea by itself? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. But Seoul would be badly wrecked, they'd now have to deal with a destitute populace and kiss their economy goodbye. So yes, South Korea could easily win an all-out war, but the costs wouldn't be worth it - think say, the Great War where the Allies "won", but the victory wasn't exactly worth everything they had done.
You think those kind of statements actually matter when we have a massive military presence in South Korea and Japan? I really think you need to understand what North Korea's stated goals for war are.
I think NK leader is bat **** crazy, that's their goals for war. That said, if a nuke is dropped in N. Korea, that's just something China has to respond, even if they don't want. It's going to be like when your loud mouth little brother (that you don't like and try to pretend you don't know) picked on the wrong kid who's big brother is going to kick his butt, you have to step in, even if you don't want. I don't think there are any solutions to the No. Korea problem and I hope it doesn't get nuclear (which will likely only happen if N. Korea starts it, I think everyone else is sane enough to not go there). Lastly, as far as why doesn't China stop N. Korea, I think the answer is they can't (the leader is crazy remember). They have to do the delicate dance of keeping N. Korea's aim at some where else (and away from China) while making sure other countries don't think China has no influence in keeping N. Korea sane. That can't be easy to do.
I don't think China is right about anything.... the recent jailing as a result of the tainted milk protests and "my daddy is liu gang" situation showed that there's some major structural issue inside China. That said, I think it's leaders for the most part are sane people who are running China like a corporation's board of directors. Any discussion should be what would a prudent board of directors (with their own selfishness also part of the decisions) run China inc.
I really doubt the PRC will directly militarily back NK in the event of a shooting war. SK is one of the PRC's biggest trading partners and there are a lot of tourism and other ties. The destruction of SK by NK is not in the longterm interests of the PRC.
