N.Korea & Nukes

[Impactor returns 2.0]

anyone watch the the thing on NK last night on BBC 2, and news night?

Thier view of past events ie, the Korean war are really quite odd... and when I mean view of the past, its the view they still belive and are taught today.

[Best First]

In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was divided by the Soviet Union north of the 38th parallel and by the United States south of the 38th parallel. The Korean people were not consulted by either power prior to this division. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of separate governments in the north and south, each claiming to be the legitimate government of all of Korea

same old story...

suprised impy is anti Kim tho:

Religious activities are heavily suppressed by the officially atheist state

[Impactor returns 2.0]

shows how much you know about me then?

[Best First]

that you take offence out of context?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

How dare you, I only ever take context out of offence!

[Yaya]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15217370/

I especially find this interesting:
"Rice told CNN that President Bush has told the North Koreans that “there is no intention to invade or attack them. So they have that guarantee. ... I don’t know what more they want.”

But....but....what happened to George's gusto? His bravado? His old "you are with us or against us"? His old "smoke em out of their holes?" His "we are the United States and we call the shots"?

Now he's kissing their asses because, well, what more can you do when threatened like that?

But he's got his oil. Yessir, good ole Texas tea.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

And you wanted a guarantee of war instead?

And, if NK doesnt abide by whatever decleration the UN sets over the comming days im pretty sure u will see everything you crave about G.W

[Yaya]

And you wanted a guarantee of war instead?

And, if NK doesnt abide by whatever decleration the UN sets over the comming days im pretty sure u will see everything you crave about G.W

The point is this. Many, many nations have nuclear weaponry. Why provoke such nations with comments like "Axis of Evil"? Coining such terms comes back to haunt you, especially if you are a President that has done jackshit about it since you've been in office. What does the U.S. have to do with North Korea? Nothing. Until now....

[Impactor returns 2.0]

well to be fair they fought the UN war in defence of SK back in the 1950's and thats the way it stays untill now - so they have an interest.

The reasons for why one country having Nukes and another having nukes in this case can be argued on a number of levels. and lets be clear, the entire UN world council has condemmed it, so there must be a point.

which probably resides in the stablity of this countries leader and belifes.

Like i said before, SK and Japan are probably very worried.

Bush, and previous governments have tried in vain to get NK to the dipolmatic table for the last 15 years with no real success.

[Yaya]

So we invade a country that made no threats against the U.S., only against its own people, yet we stand by and watch a nation directly threatens us with warfare?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Im not defending the Iraq war here

but in relation to the question.

The problem with NK is that SK and Japan are the ones who would suffer the most if the USA went to war. NK would target SK not the USA directly.

Are you saying Bush should stick to his guns and invade NK because he invaded Iraq?

whats pretty strange is the Iraw situation is that Iran bloody hated Iraq, yet they seem to be the most threaterning to the USA now, even tho, in theory, the USA did them a favour.

In time Iran might have nuked Saddam, then the world could have nuked Iran. the USA would have got 2 for one... ahem.

[Shanti418]

And you wanted a guarantee of war instead?

And, if NK doesnt abide by whatever decleration the UN sets over the comming days im pretty sure u will see everything you crave about G.W

The point is this. Many, many nations have nuclear weaponry. Why provoke such nations with comments like "Axis of Evil"? Coining such terms comes back to haunt you, especially if you are a President that has done jackshit about it since you've been in office. What does the U.S. have to do with North Korea? Nothing. Until now....

I think the far more salient point of discussion is if the US's reaction to NK encourages the use of nuclear weaopns as a deterrant from military action from the West. It seems like if you've got a country that's got resources or an ideological opposition, or even if you're just a nutter, the best way to keep hold on your power and keep the West out of your backyeard is a nuclear deterrant, even if it comes at the cost of international isolation.

[inflatable dalek]

The legallity of Nuclear weapons is completely ****** up anyway. According to a treaty signed in the 60's only the five countries that had nukes at the time are allowed to have them. Before North Korea three other nations have joined the club with India at least recieving no real comment for breaking international law. Certainly I don't think NK is a country we want with the bomb, but the high ground the US, UK, China and Russia are trying to hold onto is extremely shaky at best.

It seems like if you've got a country that's got resources or an ideological opposition, or even if you're just a nutter, the best way to keep hold on your power and keep the West out of your backyeard is a nuclear deterrant, even if it comes at the cost of international isolation.

North Korea was allready extremely isolated internationally and thus had very little to loose. A country more dependent on international trade would hopefully think twice...

[Best First]

basically if you are lonf term pro US you can have nukes, if you aren't, you can't.

also no one in the werst is allowed to acknolwedge the mind bogglingly stupidly provocative nature of this.

the US (and allies) could have spent the last x years working towards genuine dissarmament (as they and the UK and others are obliged to do by treaty's they have signed) instead they have turned a blind eye when countries like Israel have got nukes and totally undermined any poistion they can have on the matter.

oh, and also making stupid remarks like the axis of evil one. like Nk has anything to do with islamic terrorism. moron.

the uk of course, has gone right along with it.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

NK cannot have nukes because they are run by a ****** up dictator.

end off - the UK can have Nukes because...

to be honest its a **** debate - just make your mind up.