There are certainly elements in the government there that don't seem to be listening to anyone at all. The concern I have is that if those people are running the show, they just might be willing to take things to a point so close to war that something beyond their control could happen at that point.
It brings up other issues though - how happy is China with having a rogue state on the doorstep?
I imagine it was seen as quite handy when it was pointed at the US's allies and they had a degree of control on it to keep it in check, probably less useful when it is ignoring China as well and risking starting a nasty war. What china does now will be interesting.
They're happier with the status quo of North Korea, their ally, being on their doorstep than they would be with a unified Korea that was allied with the West.
It is not too likely that N. Korea will start shooting nukes at China. And if North Korea happens to fire some nukes off that hurt the west? Well China wins.
That's kinda why North Korea exists, y'know.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!

LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Oh, by the way...has anyone noticed how close the Korean peninsula is to war?
- 24/05/2010 02:04:12 PM
1160 Views
I was wondering when something would be posted about this
- 24/05/2010 02:49:54 PM
849 Views
- 24/05/2010 02:49:54 PM
849 Views
But does North Korea really listen to China that much anymore?
- 24/05/2010 02:55:04 PM
797 Views
that might well be a good point
- 24/05/2010 03:20:32 PM
764 Views
The explaination I have heard...
- 24/05/2010 09:05:40 PM
803 Views
Um, wasn't that pretty much always understood?
- 25/05/2010 12:08:12 AM
717 Views
Kim made one of his rare trips outside of North Korea about two weeks ago.
- 26/05/2010 07:49:18 AM
754 Views
yah, it doesn't look to be a good situation
- 24/05/2010 02:50:08 PM
766 Views
If there were a war with North Korea the US has the resources to deal with it.
- 24/05/2010 02:56:39 PM
784 Views
mm. well I don't much like that either, to be honest.
- 24/05/2010 03:00:29 PM
771 Views
Still scary and you know that using those would escalate everything.
- 24/05/2010 03:26:12 PM
732 Views
Korea is directly in our sphere of influence
- 24/05/2010 03:37:18 PM
687 Views
I meant "we" in a personal sense, not a national sense.
- 24/05/2010 05:36:40 PM
840 Views
In a personal sense, we could hijack a nuclear silo and shoot an ICBM at Pyongyang.
- 24/05/2010 05:50:52 PM
666 Views
- 24/05/2010 05:50:52 PM
666 Views
That would totally blow my cover of being a nerdy little grandma.
- 24/05/2010 09:37:28 PM
692 Views
A part of me says just get it over with
- 24/05/2010 03:21:06 PM
678 Views
I agree that if war is inevitable, it is much better to start it at a time of our choosing.
- 24/05/2010 03:48:36 PM
832 Views
I'm trying not to. *NM*
- 24/05/2010 05:25:06 PM
278 Views
I try to block it out with thought's of a puppet singing "I'm So Ronery". *NM*
- 24/05/2010 10:59:23 PM
292 Views
No one wants to resume the Korean War.
- 24/05/2010 11:27:12 PM
805 Views
China does.
- 25/05/2010 12:29:11 AM
762 Views
No, they don't
- 25/05/2010 12:54:49 AM
777 Views
Well, it would be more accurate to say they want a conflict, yes.
- 25/05/2010 01:15:23 AM
772 Views
No, they don't
- 25/05/2010 01:24:17 AM
749 Views
I'm saying the Cold War isn't over, since it was never about capitalism vs. communism to begin.
- 25/05/2010 01:41:28 AM
793 Views
North Korea is not acting suicidal? Are you kidding?
- 25/05/2010 02:41:29 AM
724 Views
The internal political dynamic in North Korea is such that they constantly need a crisis.
- 25/05/2010 03:03:59 AM
741 Views
You are missing the main point.
- 25/05/2010 03:36:37 AM
785 Views
I'm not saying it's nothing new.
- 25/05/2010 03:57:40 AM
752 Views
Your response highlights the ultimate problem: the crisis will have to keep getting bigger.
- 25/05/2010 07:44:19 PM
696 Views
Yes, I've been watching with morbid curiosity and a little sick feeling in my stomach.
- 25/05/2010 02:47:53 AM
795 Views
