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Forget the Missiles, This is Even More Bizarre (North Korea)
StrategyPage ^ | July 5, 2006

Posted on 07/06/2006 3:04:07 AM PDT by IrishMike

July 5, 2006: While everyone's attention was focused on North Korean missiles, the real story is the North Korean economy. It continues to fall apart, and more North Koreans are unhappy about that. Worse yet, more North Koreans are finding out how badly they have been screwed by their leaders. Meanwhile, North Korean officials engage in even more bizarre behavior. For example, food and fuel supplies sent to North Korea have been halted, not to force North Korea to stop missile tests or participate in peace talks, but to return the Chinese trains the aid was carried in on. In the last few weeks, the North Koreans have just kept the trains, sending the Chinese crews back across the border. North Korea just ignores Chinese demands that the trains be returned, and insists that the trains are part of the aid program. It's no secret that North Korean railroad stock is falling apart, after decades of poor maintenance and not much new equipment. Stealing Chinese trains is a typical loony-tune North Korean solution to the problem. If the North Koreans appear to make no sense, that's because they don't. Put simply, when their unworkable economic policies don't work, the North Koreans just conjure up new, and equally unworkable, plans. The Chinese have tried to talk the North Koreans out of these pointless fantasies, and for their trouble they have their trains stolen. How do you negotiate under these conditions? No one knows. The South Koreans believe that if they just keep the North Korean leaders from doing anything too destructive (especially to South Korea), eventually the tragicomic house of cards up north will just collapse. Not much of a plan, but so far, no one's come up with anything better.

(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; geopolitics; korea; missile; northkorea; proliferation; un
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1 posted on 07/06/2006 3:04:10 AM PDT by IrishMike
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To: IrishMike
(If I may be permitted....)

July 5, 2006: While everyone's attention was focused on North Korean missiles, the real story is the North Korean economy. It continues to fall apart, and more North Koreans are unhappy about that. Worse yet, more North Koreans are finding out how badly they have been screwed by their leaders.

Meanwhile, North Korean officials engage in even more bizarre behavior. For example, food and fuel supplies sent to North Korea have been halted, not to force North Korea to stop missile tests or participate in peace talks, but to return the Chinese trains the aid was carried in on.

In the last few weeks, the North Koreans have just kept the trains, sending the Chinese crews back across the border. North Korea just ignores Chinese demands that the trains be returned, and insists that the trains are part of the aid program.It's no secret that North Korean railroad stock is falling apart, after decades of poor maintenance and not much new equipment. Stealing Chinese trains is a typical loony-tune North Korean solution to the problem.

If the North Koreans appear to make no sense, that's because they don't.

Put simply, when their unworkable economic policies don't work, the North Koreans just conjure up new, and equally unworkable, plans.

The Chinese have tried to talk the North Koreans out of these pointless fantasies, and for their trouble they have their trains stolen. How do you negotiate under these conditions? No one knows.

The South Koreans believe that if they just keep the North Korean leaders from doing anything too destructive (especially to South Korea), eventually the tragicomic house of cards up north will just collapse. Not much of a plan, but so far, no one's come up with anything better.

2 posted on 07/06/2006 3:12:09 AM PDT by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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To: IrishMike

LOL!


3 posted on 07/06/2006 3:12:32 AM PDT by Dallas59
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To: yankeedame

Thanks


4 posted on 07/06/2006 3:15:45 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: IrishMike
Here's a link to some pictures of North Korea, some of forbidden subjects.

Look for more on Page 2.

5 posted on 07/06/2006 3:17:16 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: IrishMike
The South Koreans believe that if they just keep the North Korean leaders from doing anything too destructive (especially to South Korea), eventually the tragicomic house of cards up north will just collapse. Not much of a plan, but so far, no one's come up with anything better.

What SK leaders have ever said that?

6 posted on 07/06/2006 3:17:57 AM PDT by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
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To: IrishMike
I heard one of the talking heads on the evening news stating Kim was a "shrewd, intelligent man, not crazy but more like crazy like a fox."

Naw, Kim's just plain NUTS!!!

7 posted on 07/06/2006 3:22:47 AM PDT by dirtbiker (I've tried to see the liberal point of view, but I couldn't get my head that far up my a$$....)
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To: Dallas59

That's one good thing about dictators, I mean, well, yeah, sure, millions die, but the comedy is just excellent.

Chinese Train Engineers: Here's food and fuel
N.Korea Soldiers: Thanks!!
Chinese Train Engineers: All right, once you guys get the stuff off we'll be on our way.
N.Korea: Yeah, it looks like you guys have a long walk ahead of you. Better get started now.
Chinese Train Engineers: WTF? We're taking the train.
N.Korea: No the train is part of the aid package.
Chinese Train Engineers: No it's not!
N. Korea: Remember what Mao said about power and the gun? Look here.
Chinese Train Engineers: Oh, man, this sucks, The boss is going to kill me.


8 posted on 07/06/2006 3:26:31 AM PDT by Hong Kong Expat
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To: Izzy Dunne

Great pictures.


9 posted on 07/06/2006 3:28:20 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: bill1952
....What SK leaders have ever said that?



Don't know , but if you goggle 'Korea - news' there's dialog between both, frantic level south to north.
Japan just imposed additional sanctions as soon as the missile testing began.
10 posted on 07/06/2006 3:32:03 AM PDT by IrishMike (Democrats .... Stuck on Stupid, RINO's ...the most vicious judas goats)
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To: dirtbiker
I heard one of the talking heads on the evening news stating Kim was a "shrewd, intelligent man, not crazy but more like crazy like a fox."

And I heard another say that if Kim Jong is overthrown, someone who is really unpredictable might take over. LOL.

11 posted on 07/06/2006 3:33:47 AM PDT by Loyal Buckeye
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To: Izzy Dunne

Thanks for the pics. Very informative.


12 posted on 07/06/2006 3:40:08 AM PDT by babydoll22 (The facts ma'am, just the facts. I don't give a s**t how you feel.)
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To: IrishMike

no good deed goes unpuinished. why not let the chinese take them out?


13 posted on 07/06/2006 3:44:57 AM PDT by camle (Keep your mind open and somebody will fill if full of something for you.)
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To: humblegunner; Xenalyte; Bacon Man; Hap; pax_et_bonum; Flyer; Eaker

More proof that Kim is an absolute nutjob ping.


14 posted on 07/06/2006 3:48:14 AM PDT by Allegra (A Journey of 1,000 Miles Begins with A Bunch of Security Hassles at the Airport)
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To: IrishMike
South Korea does not want North Korea to fall apart or it will become unmeasurable burden on their economy.

Look at how West Germany is still having a hard time with East Germany and they were the most developed (supposedly) socialist economy in the world.

So status quo favors the crazy North Korean dogs.

15 posted on 07/06/2006 3:55:38 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican (everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: Allegra
What a great idea!

Next time I order a pizza I'm keeping the delivery guy's car.

16 posted on 07/06/2006 3:56:08 AM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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To: Allegra
Talk about megalomania...this guy could have taught old Uncle Adolph a thing or two.

L

17 posted on 07/06/2006 3:57:15 AM PDT by Lurker (When decadence pervades the corridors of power, depravity walks the side streets.)
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To: IrishMike

I heard a story recently that the NK news reports that Kim Jong Il is the world's greatest golfer. He in fact scores at least 2 holes in 1 every round! He once carded 5 in a row! You can't negotiate with the mentally deranged


18 posted on 07/06/2006 4:03:24 AM PDT by StoneColdTaxHater
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To: humblegunner
Next time I order a pizza I'm keeping the delivery guy's car.

Only if it's a decent car, though. You don't want to be saddled with the repair costs of some junker.

19 posted on 07/06/2006 4:14:21 AM PDT by Allegra (A Journey of 1,000 Miles Begins with A Bunch of Security Hassles at the Airport)
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To: IrishMike

Let's keep the hell out of it unless they launch a missile in our direction... then we level them...or at least the presidential palace...


20 posted on 07/06/2006 4:14:54 AM PDT by nikos1121
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