Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7859671.stm

[caniff]

SK had the "Sunshine Policy", and it has now moved to a kind of "Reciprocity Policy", but since that also doesn't appear to be working I would recommend that SK implement a "Talk to the Hand Policy".

Put these a-holes on permanent ignore.

[catman]

[maximmm]

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/29/korea-tension.html

Story with similar content.

While we can all happily ignore them, given the current financial meltdown, who knows how desperate North Korea may be.

Desperation can cause one to make irrational decisions. North Korea being starved and not getting its food rations is akin to an addict not getting his/her heroin.

We just might get the front seats to a very intense show.

[Captain Corea]

I think they're trying to set up a confrontation in the West Sea.

I hope they're blown out of the water.

[Juregen]

America already made plans to deal with North Korean physical threat.
South Koreans have superior technology (and pbbly manpower) to deal with the North.

Mr. Kim is on his last leg ....

Soon very soon

[maximmm]

Not sure if that's very reassuring.
Teaching English in the war zone can be rather hazardous..

I'd prefer for the South Korean government to take a slightly milder stance on this matter. Rather than moving on to better the already improving relations with North Korea due to the positive steps made by the previous government, Lee decided to increase the military presence at the DMZ and cut off communications with North Korea.

Diplomacy has never been a strong suit of Pres. Lee, and when you have two opposing countries with such retarded foreign policies, conflict is inevitable. One can only hope that Pres. Lee will take some diplomacy lessons soon, since that's the only side from which we can expect some sort of reasoning.

[Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee]

North Korea will make a lot of noise until South Korea gives some money to Kim Jong Il.

And it is going to happen again , and again , and again.

There is a way to put an end to this behavior from North Korea once and for all.

[GwangjuParents]

[caniff]

[Guri Guy]

[Ya-ta Boy]

The Reciprocity Policy is right. LMB should make a policy statement something like this: While we regret the Norks' dissatisfaction with the current situation, we reject the right of any one party to unilaterally alter past agreements. We hope to resume tourism to Kumgang as soon as we are assured the Norks won't shoot anymore of our housewives. We will be happy to resume shipments of food and fertilizer as soon as the Nork gov't takes steps to fulfill their side of the agreements already signed. In the meantime, our army and navy are standing by ready to protect our citizens from any hostile action from the north.

[mssinmymind]

This was on CNN;

N. Korea ups ante in standoff with S. Korea
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/30/north.korea.south.korea/index.html

How is this effecting the teaching field ? If at all ? Any concerns about safety etc ?



::Sorry I'm fairly new to this board and have never posted on the "current events" thread at all::

[Gamecock]

In my years here on the peninsula I have not once had a fear about war being a possibility. Usually people who make such warnings are laughed off this board.

However, recently, I have started to think that a disaster could happen in the short-term future. North Korea is an incredible personality cult. Essentially ALL power is in the hands of one man, an implication that is hard for us to even imagine from our backgrounds. If he says to launch every missile they have into the south, his followers will do so. They've been brainwashed for decades for such actions.

I think Kim Jong-Il is no fool and his sense of self-preservation is stronger than his hyper-rhetoric. But with his failing health, I fear that the old bastard might lose his marbles and start believing all the garbage he's been saying for years. Maybe he'll decide to go out with a bang. One thing we do know is that he doesn't really care about his own people. Would he be willing to sacrifice them for one last spectacle? I wouldn't put it past him.

North Korea has almost no chance of success in a war. But with one suprise strike they could kill ALOT of people.

[Jandar]

The Peoples Army of (North) Korea has 1.2 Million soldiers ready to attack right now as we speak. There is another 7.7 Million in reserve, or ready to attack tomorrow.

The South Korean Army has 560,000 soldiers and another 25,000 Marines.
There only 4.5 Million in reserve.

I have seen the Marines, they are fit and ready to fight.
I cannot say the same for the Army.

I would predict 3 days before Daegu is taken.

How far it goes from there is dependent on intervention from other nations.

My feeling is that a part of the 4.5 Million reserve will jump the line in favor of unification at any cost.

I hope I am wrong.