N.Korea's Military Reshuffles Are a Dangerous Sign

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 05/24/2013 | Chosun Ilbo

[TexGrill]

North Korea's hawkish Gen. Kim Kyok-sik has been named army chief, while his predecessor Hyon Yong-chol has apparently been moved to the 5th Corps in the central region. The equally hawkish Kim Yong-chol, the director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, has apparently been appointed vice army chief.

Kim Kyok-sik was in charge of troops on the western coast during a naval skirmish in November 2009, in March 2010 when the North sank the Navy corvette Cheonan, and when it shelled Yeonpyeong Island later that year.

Former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was fond of the general's belligerent ways and described him as a "fighter." Intelligence reports after the inauguration of former President Lee Myung-bak warned that Kim Kyok-sik had been appointed to lead a provocation against the South, but Seoul failed to heed the warning.

It cannot afford to repeat that mistake.

[TexGrill]

Obama's response, "I dunno."

[miliantnutcase]

What difference does it make?

[Jonty30]

It’s a possible sign that NorK is running low on supplies, because they tend to get belligerent when they need more from the West.

[Southack]

The author is whacked. NK is backing down big time after losing face with their nuclear war bluff being called.

China just ordered NK’s envoy to Beijing to de-nuclearize NK.

[Jim from C-Town]

We spend close to tens of billions of dollars a year on the dozens of intelligence agencies in the U.S. Government. $55 billion alone on the CIA. For the love of all that is holy, Why do we have any enemy leaders that continue to breath?

For the love of God, offer someone North of the 38th parallel a candy bar if the killed the countries leaders. I will provide the candy bar myself!

[DuncanWaring]

Anyone else notice that before the Boston Marathon bombing, the news was” All Nork! All the time!”?

Since, barely a peep.