North Korea Surrenders

[bornright]

North Korea must have surrendered. We were on the verge of war and now I haven't heard anything in a week. Maybe we surrendered and Obama has not told us yet. Amazing how quickly our attention is distracted by a news story. Even though the story is horrible a war with North Korea would be much more deadly. Hopefully Obama has someone keeping their eye on the ball as politicians seem to follow the media.

 

[waltky]

Mebbe lil' Kim backin' down `cause we quit provokin' the snot outta `em?...

Why is North Korea cooling it?
April 30th, 2013 - After weeks of fiery rhetoric, military saber rattling and threats against the United States and South Korea, North Korea seems downright quiet and willing to dial back the tension.

Fears Kim Jong Un would test a long-range missile have given way to an easing of his daily war threats, and North Korea has produced a list of conditions for dialogue. In exchange for returning talks, North Korea wants the lifting of U.N. sanctions, the end of the U.S.-South Korea military drills, the withdrawal of U.S. nuclear strike capabilities from the region and a halt on criticism of the North. It also wants a South Korean apology for offending its leadership. Still, even the subtle shift in tone is an improvement to the war footing Pyongyang was on just weeks ago. So what gives?

It could just be the well-oiled pattern by the North in which hyper threats and provocations, such as nuclear and missile tests, are typically followed by a cooling off period in which the regime sits back and waits to be rewarded for backing down. Moreover, U.S.-South Korea military drills ended Tuesday, which were a major cause of North Korea's angst. But Korea watchers also know the road to North Korean compliance runs through Beijing. During his trip to Asia last month, Secretary of State John Kerry placed premium importance on getting China to reign in North Korea.

While in the region Kerry said China had a vital role to play in getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, calling China the "lifeline to North Korea." "I believe China needs to become more engaged in this effort," Kerry has said since visiting Beijing. "Absent China coming to that table, I believe President Kim Jong Un calculates, literally calculates, that 'I can get away with anything if China isn't going to hold me accountable.'" China, North Korea's largest economic partner and most important political backer, has been reluctant to pressure the North Korea. China's main fear is that a collapse of the Kim regime could see the unification of the Korean Peninsula, which could put the American military at its doorstep. Beijing also doesn't want thousands of refugees crossing into China.

But after North Korea ignored China's warnings last December against launching a rocket into space, Beijing started losing its patience. Then, after North Korea launched its third nuclear test in February, China supported stiff economic sanctions at the United Nations. "Beijing's messages are not getting through and that is causing concern," one senior official said. "We think that is the main aspect for China's actions. And sure our diplomacy is playing a role as well." In recent months there has been an open and critical debate in China over its relationship with North Korea, which would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. Once a politically sensitive topic considered off limits, online columnists and Chinese on social media now open ponder the question of whether China's relationship with North Korea should be sacrosanct.

More Why is North Korea cooling it? ? CNN Security Clearance - CNN.com Blogs

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South Korea, US complete ‘Foal Eagle’ military drill
Wed, May 01, 2013 - The US and South Korea yesterday wrapped up military drills at the center of soaring tensions with North Korea, as Pyongyang ignored a new overture over a flagship joint industrial zone.

The two-month-long “Foal Eagle” air, ground and naval field training exercise — which involved more than 10,000 US troops along with a far higher number of South Korean personnel — had infuriated Pyongyang. “The drill is over but the South Korean and US militaries will continue to watch out for potential provocations by the North, including a missile launch,” South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok told reporters.

The North is still maintaining a number of missiles and missile launchers that were recently moved to its east coast in apparent preparation for a launch, Kim said. Relations between the two Koreas have been further soured by a row over the Kaesong factory park inside the North. Most remaining South Korean workers quit the complex early yesterday, but seven supervisors stayed to resolve administrative issues. It was unclear when they would return.

The North did not respond to a plea by South Korean businessmen to visit Kaesong yesterday for talks aimed at averting its permanent closure, according to Seoul, despite hopes of an easing of tensions after the end of the drills.

South Korea, US complete ?Foal Eagle? military drill - Taipei Times

 

[Politico]

We were never on the verge of war.

 

[Colin]

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[BallsBrunswick]

This is simple sabre rattling anytime there's a major regime change in either the US or North Korea. What happened this time is a Kim Jong-Un, the kid got in power and started rattling his to illustrate his power. However unfortunately for him, he had an over-exaggerated sense of his power and managed to not only annoy us but strongly annoy China as well. China read him the riot act and that's why you haven't heard anything else about it. I've been following it in the New York Times.

Interestingly, this whole thing has illustrated a power shift within China as they were strangely cooperative on this and seem to have had a liberal shift in their government with their new President and administration in power.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Big loll's for a big pussy! Talk about losing face.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Wait.. didn't we surrender?

All Kim Jong Un has to do is bend over, point his derriere towards the US mainland and letterip. They wouldn't need any nukes. All he needs do is let one in any general direction and he'll bring the entire civilized world to it's knees.

Kim Jong Un is so fat...(ugh.... what's that smell?)

Dayum.