Sorry about the even-more-peurile-than-normal heading to this post but the military temperature is rising on the Korean peninsular. According to my trusty, old warriors at NightWatch the bellicosity from the North Koreans has reached levels not seen since 1988. Not only have they unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire set in place at the end of the last Korean war but now their government-controlled media are ratcheting up the sense of crisis amongst their own people, warning them of imminent war. 'Fat Boy' Kim has paid an official visit to the artillery units which fired on the off-shore Islands owned by South Korea a few years ago. The NightWatch boys and girls reckon that the North Koreans will now be in a high state of readiness for war with all ICBMs loaded and ready to fire on the word of command.
Meanwhile, back in Beijing, the silence is deafening! I cannot believe they are happy about the possibility of a war - especially a nuclear war - breaking out on their borders. The leadership in China maintains its political control via the constant increase in trade and wealth shared amongst its people. If that is disrupted and zillions of Chinese suddenly loose jobs and incomes they have become used to, the government will quickly be in trouble.
The problem with 'Fat Boy' Kim's antics is that there are too many actors involved - in the two Koreas, in Beijing, in Washington and Tokyo, and thus the chances of mistakes and misapprehensions increases hugely. However, perhaps now, people will realise the dangers of loonies being allowed to 'go nuclear' - and they do not come much loonier than those in Tehran - except possibly in Pyongyang!
I don't think the North Koreans actually have ICBMs. As far as I know they have yet to tackle re-entry.
Posted by: A K Haart | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 09:38
Nor have they got any silos. Their most recent ICBM looked like something I had built at the top of my garden. We should laugh at them!
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 11:04
Now look here, AK, I can't have you coming over here and irritating me with mere facts - let's just say they have BBRs - Bloody Big Rockets!
And BOE, I'm not sure how hard we would laugh were we SOUTH Korean!
However, I agree with your inference that 'Fat Boy' Kim is probably a bluffer but, as I indicate above, the room for mistakes and misunderstandings is immense.
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 13:25
Well, I take heart from the fact that amongst the hundreds of Islamofascist suicide bombers, there are no clerics.
I can imagine that Kim whatsit has a big red button in his bedroom. Press that, his generals tell him, and Seoul will be incinerated. Unfortunately for him it merely puts half a million volts thru' his bedframe. The generals are living the good life and wish it to continue.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 16:33
"peninsular" is the adjective not the noun.
Posted by: dearieme | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 19:54
I probably take this stuff more seriously than I should, especially since I know nothing about military matters. What bothers me is that the NK Whosit is in bed with the Iranian Whatsit. Does anyone else around here think that the Whatsit is telling the Whosit to start a war with SK just to keep the US occupied? He probably thinks God wills it.
Posted by: Dom | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 20:35
Well, I don't take this half-wit seriously at all. Frankly, my dear, I think he's full of it!
Posted by: Andra | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 20:37
In addition to the 'Daily NK" link presented some months ago, here's another you might bookmark:
http://freekorea.us/
"Appears" Norkie subs are out of port - but if there is to be anything 'punitive' - I'm figuring maybe a medium range missile test "about a week" following the end of the current US/ROK exercises.
Chinese press is quietish:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/
Posted by: JK | Friday, 08 March 2013 at 20:42
Oh no, DM, Sir, not another hundred lines! But in a desperate effort to curry favour with you, Headmaster, I have actually bought a book called "Our Language" and I feel certain you should soon see an improvement in mine - see post above when I get round to writing it later this morning.
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 10 March 2013 at 09:03
Just noticed:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/02/08/2013020800511.html
NW most recent says the Kaesong Industrial Park remains open.
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 12:19
On closer inspection - the above link is dated, Feb. 08, 2013.
Sorry.
But the games do begin today:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-03/12/c_132227667.htm
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 12:25
But scrolling down on your second link, JK, I see "Top 10 Bikini Babes from Sports Illustrated". How come you failed to report that?
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 14:23
Well David, had you bothered to notice the date of the wargames featuring us and the ROK, you'd noticed that was NOT today but rather yesterday.
The "Bikini Babes" bares today's date.
Posted by: JK | Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 18:36
"bares" being the operative word, I assume!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 22:30