Job Discussion Forums

[jimoin]

North Korea has launched an artillery barrage on a South Korean held island, killing one and injuring others. South Korea has responded by returning fire. What on earth provocation was it this time? NK recently revealed it is building a nuclear power plant and the US responded calmly. What is China going to do about its insane ally?

[geaaronson]

If you read the additional commentary about the exchange, therein lies the explanation.

North Korea is in the middle of a succession. The grandson of the founder of the Communist nation is about to become head man. When his father was about to become head of the nation, the grandfather similarly attacked S. Korea. It`s a rite of succession and serves to prove to South Korea not to mess with "my son" while he learns the ropes of leadership.

[btsmrtfan]

Then there is this:

http://www.mediaite.com/uncategorized/sarah-palin-confuses-whos-on-our-side-in-northsouth-korea/

[johnslat]

Dear btsmrtfan,

Well, that's only fair, you betcha. I mean, we were on the South's side the first time.

Regards,
John

P.S. A side-note: Wearing my Marine Corps, Vietnam vet jacket, I just stopped by McDonalds. The guy behind the counter, noticing the jacket, told me:

"Do you believe we're going back there?"

"Huh," I replied.

"To Vietnam - they just bombed South Korea."

I corrected his misapprehension and marveled yet once again at how much the US public generally knows about history and geography.

Have you ever wondered how someone like Ms Palin could have so many fans here?
I don't.

[naturegirl321]

Please. They're NOT. They're just acting like spoilt children stamping their feet and hopig for more aid money. BUt . . I hope peple do get scared off of Korea. Then there will be less competition for jobs.

It ticks me off what the media does and how they portray things. I had frantic emails from family and friends thinking I'd died Funnily enough, I had no idea what happened. That should give you an idea of priorities and how seriosly we're taking this.

I teach uni students, who are 1 yaer away from their 22 month stint of miltary service. They're not worried. So why shoudl I?

[spiral78]

P.S. A side-note: Wearing my Marine Corps, Vietnam vet jacket, I just stopped by McDonalds. The guy behind the counter, noticing the jacket, told me:

"Do you believe we're going back there?"

"Huh," I replied.

"To Vietnam - they just bombed South Korea."

I corrected his misapprehension and marveled yet once again at how much the US public generally knows about history and geography.

Have you ever wondered how someone like Ms Palin could have so many fans here?
I don't.

I don't, either. Stories like this are sadly abundant. It really depresses me to see how popular someone like Palin has become..it's like they've got their brains switched off. The ultimate result of decades of American television, perhaps

[cks]

Yes, as Palin says, "We all must stand by our Northern Korean Allies"

She has over 2 million fans on facebook, her daughter who was a robotic dancer almost won Dancing With the Stars by the votes, and her book is on the front shelf at the bookstore in West Texas and very popular. Quite disturbing! I do get a kick out of watching her brilliant interviews!

[Prof.Gringo]

[scot47]

Looking at the adventures in faraway places that the Pentagon has got involved in, are you surprised that North Korea has the idea that uncle Sam might try something ?

[geaaronson]

[Teflon Don]

Ha!

It was in Gavin right?

[astrayalien]

I want to know, why did the USA have military exercises near North Korean territory? Isn't that a little antagonistic?

[naturegirl321]

[desertdust]

This little game of charades has been going on since 1945. The Kim dynasty and and his cherished Korean Workers Party will hold on to power till the very end, whenever that will be; most probably the year 2145.

If anyone goes on one of the DMZ tours you will be sure to visit a little museum where all the armed insurgencies into South Korea are listed in large English print on a wall (inside). The date and details of the nature of the breach or violation of the armistice are recorded. From memory it was about 138 (or there abouts) infiltrations or violations of the agreement. That was about 8 years ago.

One of the most serious occurred in 1968 when 31 North Korean commandos tried to kill the South Korean President Park Chung Hee. They managed to escape back across the DMZ with some being killed during their escape but the leader of the platoon was captured. He admitted the operation was to kill the President of SK.

Apparently South Korea wanted to go to war over this military operation by the north. However, Lyndon B. Johnson and the US military was already head over heals involved in the Vietnam fiasco and could not afford another war. Johnson and his advisers apparently said no way thus the idea melted away. In a way the 1968 attack was far more serious in its execution and tenacity compared to the recent artillary bombardment. Both warrant good excuses needed to go to war. For one thing they were both similar in their dynamics but different in operation. One was a covert commando operation the other an artillery barrage. 1968- War in Vietnam - 2010 - War in Afghanistan (Iraq) ...US military under economic and manpower constraints.

[Captain_Fil]

Since the recent troubles between the two Koreas began, I've started rethinking about working in South Korea.

I don't want to teach and then end up in a nuked landscape.