Paz on 9/10/2006 at 16:47
Quote Posted by Matthew
More seriously: How come the Western powers were willing to bargain with (say) Libya, but not with North Korea?
I think it's simply because Gaddafi decided the country was "open for business", so to speak.
After Blair popped back here and announced Libya were our friends now, Shell signed a £550mil oil-exploration deal and BAE Systems set up a multi-million pound defence contract. You can get away with anything if you play along nicely on the surface (hello Saudi Arabia, hello Uzbekistan).
Just sayin'
Gillie on 9/10/2006 at 17:11
Quote Posted by Matthew
It's not the clowns I'm concerned about, it's the few million poor sods who've been tricked into being led by them.
That is so true. When will they ever learn. NEVER. For what purpose and end. I am not that Political,but is wrong. They care nothing of their own peoples starvation,and waste money on no end. They will get no where I think.
Shevers on 9/10/2006 at 17:11
Quote Posted by Fragony
They can't hurt you, these nuclair bombs tend to be a bit on the heavy side, far too heavy for any rocket system, and there is always the patriot sytem which I believe the united states posseses.
Then they'll just bring them over on
BOATS!Don't worry, there'll always be some excuse to be scared of the nukes.
thefonz on 9/10/2006 at 18:01
Honestly, what is there to be scared of?
It wasnt a bomb they tested; it was a nuclear "device" which can mean anything from a rod of plutonium detonating to...well...
Or maybe i have it wrong; since all we have sofar is a seismic shock identified by the Japanese and NK's word that they've done a test.
Besides; with this (if it is true) they've pretty much fucked themselves as their only allie in china are condeming them. So worst case scenario is NK has to bow to international pressure since there's no way they could possibly hope to win a war against lets face it, the ENTIRE international community. Its not just the UK and US crimefighting tag team this time. This is everyone seriously pissed.
Woest case scenario is:
NK actually did conduct nuclear test.
World condemn them.
NK gives the bird to the world and proceed to do more testing.
US and China and Japan and UK join forces to form SUPERWORLDNUKE-ATRON.
SUPERWORLDNUKE-ATRON bomb fuck out of NK.
Pyongyang disappears overnight.
NK people rise up.
Kim Jong Il is executed.
SK and NK finally become one country.
We enter a lovely golden age with posies and flowers and promiscuous sex with the swedes.
Martin Karne on 9/10/2006 at 18:01
We're doomed!
Going to play Doom 3 right now.
Agent Monkeysee on 9/10/2006 at 18:23
Quote Posted by Fragony
So they have a bomb, they don't even have the means to get it anywhere.
North Korea has missiles capable of hitting South Korea and Japan. The missile tests that fail hilariously are the ones designed to get across the pacific. They have the means to hit their immediate neighbors quite easily.
SD on 9/10/2006 at 18:26
Why is everyone so worried? Ronald Reagan never used nukes, and he was way more insane than Kim Jong-il.
Nicker on 9/10/2006 at 19:01
Quote Posted by Strontium Dog
Why is everyone so worried? Ronald Reagan never used nukes, and he was way more insane than Kim Jong-il.
Reagan only had eight years to brew his personal madness. Kimmy has a lifetime of fermentation ahead of him... unless someone pops his cork soon. I am more afraid of the West's possible over reaction than Kim Jong-Il's strutting.
Paz on 9/10/2006 at 19:58
Quote Posted by Agent Monkeysee
North Korea has missiles capable of hitting South Korea and Japan. The missile tests that fail hilariously are the ones designed to get across the pacific. They have the means to hit their immediate neighbors quite easily.
Are they likely to do this though, really?
Much as it pains me to haphazardly speculate about North Korean motives like some kind of internet twat (hi, most of the internet, today); everything I know about this Kim Jong Il regime (ie; admittedly not much) points to it always acting entirely in self-interest - in classic dictator style. In other words, retaining power for the small group at the top. In that respect, launching any kind of nuclear strike at anyone would seem extremely out of character. It would not be good for their position.
Posing around on the world stage and saying "LOOK OUT DUDES!", however, seems to be a fantastic way to make sure you stay in power. Especially if you were previously paranoid about possible military intervention from your Southern border (however unrealistic). They must feel pretty untouchable now - sanctions never hurt the top guys, they can pretty much continue to ignore the UN/US/the world community, no-one will consider a military option. In a perverse way, it looks like a fairly astute political move. UNLESS, withdrawal of aid from previous chums like China tips the country over into some kind of revolution/coup type situation.
I was trying to think of any wacky dictators in history who, when cornered or faced with imminent defeat, have actually RELEASED THE FUCKING FURY. I've not managed to come up with any. So that's quite encouraging, probably.
Despite all of the above, if I lived in South Korea or Japan I can see it being a somewhat concerning time. How would it not be?
Flippant aside: the BBC graphic depicting the super-secret nuclear testing site UNDERNEATH A MOUNTAIN was some total James Bond wet dream.
{edit} It's funny how many people across INTERNET have seemingly developed overnight into experts on all manner of subjects like Sino-Japanese relations and South Korean culture - when yesterday they were just some pricks who could barely put together a sentence about games/football/books/the price of fish. And, reading the above, it seems I have depressingly tried to join this foolhardy mob. DAMN YOU INTERNET, YOU MAKE MONSTERS OF US ALL. {/edit}
thefonz on 9/10/2006 at 20:08
Quote Posted by Paz
Flippant aside: the BBC graphic depicting the super-secret nuclear testing site UNDERNEATH A MOUNTAIN was some total James Bond wet dream.
Yes, I admit. I too was VERY aroused at that graphic.
:wot:
Is anyone else looking forward to the movie of this? I move for Danny DeVito to play Kim Jong Il...
