Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

"In return, the South will be given investment rights into North Korean mining operations for zinc, magnesite and coal, the sides said in a joint statement."

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/07/11/koreas.aid.ap/index.html


Nothing like selling out the security of your own people, feeding and clothing the enemy, while he builds nuclear bombs to kill you with.

As I've always said, it's all about Chaebols seeing the North as one big, huge way to make a lot of money. Public safety be damned.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Wangja]

Even if the north had them, I can't see nukes being used on the south - make the place uninhabitable for a couple of decades? Where's the benefit?

[bignate]

The whole reason for the nukes is to preserve the regime, and prevent an invasion, even he isn't psycho enough to use them unprovoked - there would be no point for him or his country.

They are there as a bargaining chip against foreign aggression by a vastly superior and untouchable force - the US.

This is the only equalizer KJI has against the US and bedamned if he isn't doing his best to use it to his advantage....

The whole point of the exercise is to increase trust between the various factions and to bring about a definite change in the regime, while allowing an opening of the country to foreign influence, which has already had positive and reactionary effects in and around the North's border with China. Obstinance will not work with a totally committed and obstinate foe - it just doesn't work, you have to work him and slowly undermine his power - that is what will ultimately lead to regime change - not beligerence, because KJI is the king of beligerence and obstinance.

[Kuros]

It's also about South Korean companies profiting from super-cheap North Korean slave labor. And I don't think I'm guilty of hyperbole by calling it slave labor.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I was having a chat on Sunday about this with someone far better in know than I am. He proffered a couple of chilling posibilities.

One is that the Nork regime starts to crumble and they launch a war as a last ditch attempt to have the cards fall some other way. He suspected that in this scenario the Norks would use what nukes they have on US military bases but would not be adverse to using heavy artillery on Seoul (a barage that could only last 15-20 minutes) including chemical / biological weapons.

Another is that they just declare war on the US, ignoring ambitions on Korea temporarily. They would send ultimada to Japan and SK demanding that they expel US forces or they nuke the bases, and then see where the chips fall.

In any event, it looks like a collapsing Nork regime could be quite some cause for alarm.

[trigger123]

welcome to korea

[trigger123]

and this situation will continue until seoul stops upholding the regime in the north... which they will do for at least another 52 years.
kim jong il must be undermined. and to be honest, just as interfering in a family feud, the south are the only ones who can bring about an end to this stalemate.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ulsanchris]

The collapse of N. Korea is the second worst outcome to the problem on the Korean Pensula. War is the worst. If the South, US, and Japan stopped sending aid the North would collapse. I imagine it would pretty easy for some of the nukes the north has to go missing. That is a much scarier thought than a N. korea with nukes. IF the north were to collapse the States would be wise to offer to buy the Nukes off of the generals at a very inflated price.
The South should be demanding more for what they are giving N. Korea, but the core of what they are doing isn't that bad of an idea. That is buying of the N. Korean leadership. If you throw them enough money they will grow to love capitalism. It will take time but things will improve. Look at China. They used to be die hard commies until the money started being thrown at them. They aren't commies any more. Hopefully in ten or so years they will be a democracy.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[matesol]

I know an American in Korea who has a Ph.D. in North Korea studies. He said if he were Kim,Jong Il, he would "accidentally" have a non nuclear bomb go off and hit one of the Army bases. That probably would break the alliance between S. Korea and the US. The South Koreans wouldn't want to retaliate if only those dirty rotten Americans died and George Bush would be about ready to have a coniption. If the US left because South Korea wouldn't retaliate or impose sanctions, then North Korea could really play the "Give me Food, I've got nukes" card. Of course it's all speculation.

I've always said that the dirty little secret about North Korea is that it is just too convenient of a buffer zone between, China, Japan and South Korea and Russia. No one, not South Korea, not China, not Russia, not Japan, not the US, really wants to see North Korea collapse. Kim, Jong Il MUST know this. Also, since China has over a billion people and North korea with less than Canada, it is relatively cheap and convenenient to give North Korea just enough to keep the elite in comfort, But if the US left and North Korea were stronger, KJI would certainly be even more demanding.

Just my $0.02

[Dan]

The South can't stop caring about the North. Most older South Koreans still wonder what happened to family they had up there.

You have to appreciate that before wondering about the validity of the Sunshine policy.

For us, North Korea is the guy with the messed up hair, but to many Koreans, it's part of an extended family.

[On the other hand]

[Yu_Bum_suk]