| mrstickball said: stof - You said a day ago that things weren't too serious. Have things changed? I read that NK broke off all diplomatic ties with SK. |
I wouldn't say it's not serious. But people here aren't quite expecting a new war. The two nations have had relations freeze and thaw before.
I think most people on this board associated statements by South Korean in regards to seeking justice or retaliation as being of a purely military nature. People tend to forget that these two may be at war with eachother, but out of necessity deal with eachother in a lot of ways. It's those ways that are changing (as has already started) that The government was reffering to.
Just last year South Koreans regularily went to a Mountain Resort in North Korea (until one got shot by NK soldiers), up until this crisis SKoreans worked in and owned factories in the North Korean joint industrial site. Korea was regularily giving them large quantities of food and even some financial aid.
There are many ways to strike hard at NK without using the military and that's what the south is doing. The ceasation of aid, seeking tougher sanctions, reconstructing the DMZ soldier based propaganda towers (that had been up before), and I'm sure we'll see an upswing in activist groups doing propaganda balloon drops. It's the North that's put in the tough position, because military outbursts is the only tool they have. And at this point it's one that inherently brings about... well... destruction. They can't even really count on China for anything either. China actually doesn't gain much anymore by having North Korea there, aside from illegal migration and smuggling concerns. But they do get great business oportunities with the South. I can't help but thing there's a bit of a conflict between traditional schools of thought on NK and the new school thought on doing business.
What we need to figure out is why that sub fired a torpedo. Was it a rogue ship captain? Direct military orders? A presidential dictat? If it's the latter, Jong Il must have some reason for seeking the tension. Some have theorized it's to help get his people to rally behind his third son when he takes over the country.
If it was the military, it may infact signal that the Country is starting to see a rift in it's administration. And I wouldn't be surprised if Jong Ill's reign was ended by the military. Whether the country would be better or worse underneath the North Korean Military (which it kind of is now anyways, since Jong Ill is their leader), is a hard one to call.
If it was simply a mistake or rogue captain. Well then 3 guesses as to who just got executed. It would probably be under this scenario that things go back to the status quo quickest.
I'm a mod, come to me if there's mod'n to do.
Chrizum is the best thing to happen to the internet, Period.
Serves me right for challenging his sales predictions!
Bet with dsisister44: Red Steel 2 will sell 1 million within it's first 365 days of sales.
