Forget the Missiles, This is Even More Bizarre (North Korea)

StrategyPage ^ | July 5, 2006

[Boston Blackie]

[AppyPappy]

If you have ever worked for a boss from China (and I have), you know the conversation:

Boss: WHERE TRAIN?
Me: THEY KEEP TRAIN!!
Boss: THEY NO KEEP TRAIN!! YOU GET TRAIN!!
Me: THEY HAVE GUN!
Boss: TAKE STICK, WAVE AROUND, GET TRAIN!! NO COME BACK NO TRAIN!!!!

I used to work for a Chinese woman. She spoke good English but when she got mad, she spoke like this.

[Trust but Verify]

Hey, but I heard their leader wrote 1500 books while he was in college. You have to admit that's pretty impressive.

[IrishMike]

See post #5 by Izzy Dunne, there is a link to photographs taken inside North Korea. Very interesting.

[IrishMike]

See post #5 by Izzy Dunne, there is a link to photographs taken inside North Korea. Very interesting.

[IrishMike]

Thanks for the laugh.

[Wuli]

"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."

That often publicly stated position of many South Koreans (like the above example) is only half right, and my guess is that many South Koreans know it.

What is it that they know but won't say?

Without a push, a non-military push, the North could hang on for decades, many decades.

What would push it over the edge, to implosion, would be a Reaganesque approach - no concessions to the North's saber rattling, and continually upping the military status-quo ante by the U.S. (permanent, nuclear, strategic flotilla at the edge of North Korea's international waters' boundry together with open encouragement for Japan and South Korea to get their own nuclear missles)(China would hate that).

Why does the South hesitate, against such measures?

The have seen how Germany is still suffering from absorbing Eastern Germany, which was infinitely better off than North Korea is now. They prefer to live on false hopes and delaying that prospect, instead of helping to precipitate it and free their northern cousins sooner.

[pax_et_bonum]

What a great idea!

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

lol!

[jiggyboy]

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.

Absolutely amazing -- this is literally right out of Atlas Shrugged.

[r9etb]

The first sign of battle and their huge army will desert.

I rather doubt that. The NK soldiers are three generations into the most comprehensive national brain-washing ever attempted. If they cross the border at all, they'll do it in a human wave attack.

I've no doubt whatsoever that they'd eventually fall apart, but not before they (and their artillery) make a huge mess in a significant portion of South Korea.

[caver]

I agree, it will be bloody. The NK soldiers will come over in waves because they will have machine guns at their backs. I would think as soon as they are out of the line of fire, they will surrender in droves.

I just wonder how they would sustain any effort for a period of time.

[RightWhale]

Interesting that anybody could read Ayn Rand and decide they like that part.

[bwteim]

Fascinating pictures. The subtitles to the pictures are helpful as well. Thanks for the link.

[nascarnation]

North Korea:
a living history museum of the failure of communist theory

[exit82]

Now there's a logical thought!

That was busting out loud funny--thanks!

[exit82]

Shades of John Pinnette and the Chinese buffet!

Thanks for the laugh! Could you imagine trying to explain to your boss that the crazy NK-ers kept the whole darn train!

[IrishMike]

...Absolutely amazing -- this is literally right out of Atlas Shrugged.


Amazing

[Kenny Bunk]

I fail to see why everyone is so excited about the North Koreans' feeble attempt at Fourth of July fireworks. Like perhaps it wasn't a hostile act?

Have any of you stopped to think that these agrarian reformers were simply trying to reach out to us on our Independence Day? Although the fireworks in my back yard were certainly more spectacular, I don't fault the North Koreans for trying, and no one was hurt in my backyard, or theirs. Around here, we call that "success."

As far as keeping the CHICOM trains goes, it's kinda tough to feel sorry for the former owners, even if they stole'em fair and square from some other country. But since the CHICOM still build way cool coal-burning steam locomotives from plans they stole from England and the US, they really can't be all bad. Can they?

One other thing, if the NKs really want to join in the wholesome Fourth of July family fun, they simply have to drop this "Dong," nomenclature from their quaint pyrotechnics. It simply causes 12-year-olds to smirk knowingly at each other and causes the younger children to ask embarassing questions.

[IrishMike]

The fireworks in your back yard didn't drive oil up over $75 per barrell.

[GOPJ]

Kiosk that sells foreign product to tourists, as in snickers chinese sprite and lays from 2001. You have to chose your product pay at a sepate booth get a checkstub and give it to the merchant to get your purchase.

Great pictures - but the above comment is odd - as this is a traditional way of buying and selling in Russia, but not in China. For a Russian to comment on it doesn't fit...