Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Harpeau]

An interesting article. I have a few dissagreements. The main one being, I've never met anyone in the US Forces over the past 9 years who'd rather be in Iraq or Afghanistan, than Korea. (Maybe up in Punmonjum, OK, I could maybe understand that.) If you are one, please prove me wrong.

I also don't agree that Kim, Jong-il is very smart. His father was a great leader, but not the son, IMHO.

I think the author needs to spend more time in Korea. Don't think he really has a handle on things. As if the NKA can just march down into Seoul~ come on, what about the mine fields in the DMZ?!? What about the Anti-tank highway bunker-blockers. (The overpasses that are blown up and fall down onto the roads blocking access. Going through fields isn't so easy.)
They would probably launch missiles against Seatle then Seoul.
This kind of propoganda says to me that maybe the USA are toying with a first strike against North Korea.

In addition, does he understand how brainwashed the NK people are?
I think the guy needs to get a grip. What do yo all think?

http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/07/kaplan-on-when-n-korea-collapses/#more-3533

[seoulsucker]

The chemical/biological thing is a bit scary.

I've actually considered purchasing a chemical suit and mask.

[Harpeau]

Something like this?!!

[RACETRAITOR]

It is pretty interesting, but too long. I think Kim Jongil is smarter than he's portrayed, but more as a shrewd politician who can get what he wants than a good leader who can provide for his people.

For a lot of US soldiers, being assigned to Korea sucks. They'd rather be on a base somewhere in their own country. It's a little unfair to compare being stationed here with being in Iraq or Afghanistan, where there is active combat. In Korea they are isolated from their families and their country, and the leadership is lousy and uptight.

[ajgeddes]

I actually met a guy one night that said he hated being stationed here and really wanted to go to Iraq, or as a second choice Afghanistan. He was actively trying to get transferred. He obviously had his reaons, but it just wasn't something I could relate to.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

They don't get promoted unless they go to Iraq these days.

[jaganath69]

He could have sought advice from someone other than the USFK. I enjoyed it and thought it was a good read, but its only half the story. The truth is somewhere between that and Selig Harrisson

[jinju]

[Zolt]

What worries me most in NK currently is we're not even sure any more that Kim Jong Il's the guy in charge. It seems he's lost much of his power to the military bigwigs.

As for the nation collapsing, you can't quite count on that for tomorrow. It is being held togeter by sheer nationalistic bullheadedness, and anyone who's been in korea for any length of time know not to underestimate that.

Chemical weapons, nukes & stuff, I'd be more worried about that in Japan. The guys up north are deranged sure, but it's not their style to unleash it on their own kind. Plus after the iraq WMD thingie, I tend to think twice before going in full alert mode. Besides, for a good bloodbath, going in israeli style with cluser ammo is actually much more efficient and easier.

That said, peace.

[Harpeau]

Do you think China will attacxk and try and take over North Korea? Just wondering if that is doeable or not.

[soviet_man]

My opinion is that people around the world accept that the US currently has a superior military machine and are not afraid to slaughter thousands of innocent people to achieve its capitalist agenda. That much has been obvious in the past few years.

But with no oil reserves in the DPRK, there has been no financial incentive for an invasion there during the past 50+ years.

So the question for the future is what alliances can the DPRK can build to secure itself from capitalist world? Defense technologies are being developed and exported throughout the non-capitalist word: in Iran, China, Russia, Venezuela, Angola, Belarus, Cuba, Pakistan, Transnistria and other states in addition to the DPRK.

[NAVFC]

[NAVFC]

[soviet_man]

Iraq = 41,630 dead at a minimum.

Source: www.iraqbodycount.net

That is not a small number.

[lastat06513]

The collapse of North Korea is a very complicated matter because of all the factors involved.

Here are some of the players who would want to see North Korea collapse and why?

The U.S.- The U.S. would like to see North Korea collapse to rid the world of one of the most prolific missile salesmen on the planet. And to prove to its own people and the people of the world that the U.S. is indeed one of the most powerful militaries to deal with.

Japan- Japan would like to see North Korea fall and brought under the influence of the U.S. because it would remove a major threat from its doorstep. And it would give their politicians a boost in popularity. And it would provide much needed money in reconstruction contracts to repair its ancient and decrepit infrastructure and rebuild its industries to fight the next big threat- China

Now here are some players who don't want to see North Korea collapse, thus sending it obscene amounts of aid to keep it afloat;

China- The most traditional of communist allies. They don't want to see North Korea collapse because North Korea is in fact nothing more than an insane buffer state and if that collapses, it would send a signal to the Korean minority in the northeast that there is indeed a better world on the other side. And the most pressing problem is also the refugees, once there is even a small sign of collapse or degeneration in North Korea, millions and millions of refugees would start pouring into China (which would explain the 100,000 PLA troops already on the border now). This influx of refugees would put a great strain on the northeastern provinces.

- One way for them to stop this is to claim the territory by way of historic claim to its history (start reading about the history distortion claims in the Korean media). So once North Korea collapses, it would signal the PLA to move into the land and claim it in the name of the Chinese fatherland.

South Korea- To South Korea, the sudden collapse and reunification of Korea would be seen as a tremendous burden on the Korean public and it would force them to have to take in the millions of unskilled workers who would inevitably make their way south in search of jobs.

Russia- The only reason Russia is against the collpase of North Korea is because it is against American policy now, simple as that.

Now if there is war on the Korean peninsula, it might even spark a wider Asian conflict and might even enbold others to open other fronts of conflict- thus possibly causing World War 3 (no joke)

My scenerio-

The U.S. and Japan impose sanctions on North Korea in accordance to the UN resolution on its nuclear program, thus justifying a military strike.

They launch a multi-prong missile attack on South Korea, Japan, Guam and Alaska (an improved version of the TaepoDong missile could reach that far). This invites a US-coalition military response. Keep in mind that the US has 4 nuclear subs- 2 on each side of the peninsula to strike at North Korea in the event it uses its nuclear arsenal.

Now this will also allow China to aid North Korea logistically and start the full-fledge invasion of Taiwan. Because of its treaty obligation, the U.S. must help the Taiwanese repulse the invasion, but on a smaller scale since it would be bogged down in Korea. And if the allies get into North Korea, both China and Russia will allow the North Korean military to use their territory to launch guarilla-style attacks on the newly reformed UNC.

Now, on the other side of the world, Iran makes good on their threats and start missile attacks on Israel, who retaliates with precision airstrikes- thus starting a broader conflict in the middle east and in the islamic world that threatens ALL western interests in the region and even as far as southern Europe. And starting an alliance of convenience with groups like Al-Qaeda and Jamaal Islamya, starting a terror campaign far greater than anything the west has ever seen (even far greater than 9/11)

Any talk of the collapse or attack on North Korea carries possible larger repercussions for the whole region and perhaps the whole world.