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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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 Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:39 am Post subject: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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From the NY Times, entitled "Analysts Puzzle Over Cause of Flare-Up", here are some excerpts:
"As nerves began to calm the day after a prolonged and deadly artillery exchange between North and South Korea, focus turned on Wednesday to the possible motivations for the assault and whether the South might have provoked it."
�What has been missing in all the analysis is that we�re not listening to what North Korea says,� said Michael Breen, the author of a book about the two Koreas and a biography of Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader. �Because of the blustering language the North Koreans always use, you tend to dismiss it.
�But if the North was holding live-fire exercises five miles offshore from South Korea, it wouldn�t just be business as usual. These waters, they consider theirs. What�s the point, anyway, of doing these live-fire drills so close to North Korea?�
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/world/asia/25kim.html?_r=1 |
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pattern_based_sequencer
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:41 am Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| While North Korea is totally at fault here, I do question the logic of Seoul conducting drills so close to North Korea. It's poking the hornet's nest, and they know it. |
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Mariella713
Joined: 22 May 2010
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:56 am Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| pattern_based_sequencer wrote: |
| While North Korea is totally at fault here, I do question the logic of Seoul conducting drills so close to North Korea. It's poking the hornet's nest, and they know it. |
My sentiments exactly. |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:46 am Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| Mariella713 wrote: |
| pattern_based_sequencer wrote: |
| While North Korea is totally at fault here, I do question the logic of Seoul conducting drills so close to North Korea. It's poking the hornet's nest, and they know it. |
My sentiments exactly. |
They are within their rights to conduct drills south of the internationally-recognised northern limit line.
I agree that it is provocative to have exercises within yards of the line, but if they back off further south now (which would presumably be to around the military demarcation line), then it will send a message to the Norks that aggression pays and validate their claims that the demarcation line is the valid territorial marker.
The most critical time will come on the 28th when joint US- ROK exercises are conducted. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:26 am Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| Junior wrote: |
They are within their rights to conduct drills south of the internationally-recognised northern limit line.
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I am not, repeat, not, condoning NK's actions. I just think it's unwise to dismiss everything they do as being "crazy"(not that you were, Junior).
Another excerpt from the article:
�But a military exercise is classically a cover for the real thing,� said Mr. Breen. �The North Koreans may have reasoned, in their paranoia, that an invasion was happening.�
| Junior wrote: |
The most critical time will come on the 28th when joint US- ROK exercises are conducted. |
Agreed! One more excerpt:
American and South Korean militaries announced Wednesday that an aircraft carrier strike group would lead a four-day exercise in the western sea beginning on Sunday. The strike group is led by the United States carrier George Washington.
Mr. Breen called it �foolishness.�
�The whole idea is just to give them the bird,� he said.
�China is not going to react well to this,� added Mr. Delury. �They may wait a day or two, but they�re going to be upset.�
North Korea scholars in Seoul said the arrival of the aircraft carrier, as a potent symbol of gunboat diplomacy, would likely bolster the hardliners inside the North Korean regime.
�These guys want aircraft carriers,� Mr. Delury said. �This is exactly the response they want.� |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
[
�The whole idea is just to give them the bird,� he said.
] |
As opposed to doing nothing and sending a message to the North that aggression pays?
We've tried that for 60 years now...time for something else.
Mr. Breen should read his history. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
As opposed to doing nothing and sending a message to the North that aggression pays?
We've tried that for 60 years now...time for something else.
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Ok, so what do you suggest? |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Where's Breen's comments about the North's live fire exercises? Or their mock tank invasion of the South... Road signs and all?
Let's not forget, the North love to take part in this dance as well.
How many helpless sea birds have they killed in their day with missile launches and artillery practice? |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: A balanced article on latest NK-SK flare-up. |
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| Sector7G wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
As opposed to doing nothing and sending a message to the North that aggression pays?
We've tried that for 60 years now...time for something else.
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Ok, so what do you suggest? |
Cutting off all aid temporarily seems like a good start. Putting international pressure on China to rein N.K in seems worth a try as well. |
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