North Korea renders armistice null and void,cuts S.K Hotline

[The God-Realm]

In all honesty, I hope NK is serious this time. It'll give NK the perfect excuse for Korean unification finally.

I agree.

[Zweite Alaje]

The deal with NK and SK is the same as it was with West and East Germany, one nation split into two. The Korean nation has been divide for far too long, it is time for the South to reclaim its northern kin. To be honest I feel the same way about China and Taiwan, the RoC needs to go.

The problem is, though that the East Germans were never as completely cut off from the world and as indoctrinated as the North Koreans have been. The main problem there was financial, not cultural or social (or mental).
To say nothing of the fact that the economic cost of reintegrating North Korea would simply be massive even in relation to the costs West Germany undertook to reintegrate the East.

Most South Koreans don't even seem to want reunification anymore. Can you blame them?

Even so, North Korea has enormous economic potential it would be worth the effort. NK has a good resource base to begin proper modernization. The Koreans are extremely race conscious, if the South sees an opportunity, I have no doubt it will annex the North.

Edit: Damn iPhone....

[The Tiger Kingdom]

The problem is, though that the East Germans were never as completely cut off from the world and as indoctrinated as the North Koreans have been. The main problem there was financial, not cultural or social (or mental).
To say nothing of the fact that the economic cost of reintegrating North Korea would simply be massive even in relation to the costs West Germany undertook to reintegrate the East.

Most South Koreans don't even seem to want reunification anymore. Can you blame them?

Even so, North Korea has enormous economic potential it would be worthy the effort. NK has a good resource base to being proper modernization. The Koreans are extremely race conscious, if the South sees an opportunity, I have no doubt it will annex the North.

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.
It can really only drag SK down, as far as I've looked into it.
Also, lol at irony of declaring another entire race "race-conscious".

[The Joseon Dynasty]

Also, lol at irony of declaring another entire race "race-conscious".

He's not wrong.

[Nadkor]

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.

Well, I mean, look at the trouble Germany had trying to integrate the former East Germany. It put tremendous strain on Germany's economy.

And, well, North Korea is not East Germany.

[The Emerald Dawn]

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.

Well, I mean, look at the trouble Germany had trying to integrate the former East Germany. It put tremendous strain on Germany's economy.

And, well, North Korea is not East Germany.

Nadkor's right. Them fuckers don't even have the same words for stuff.

[AiliailiA]

Keep in mind their actions, and your proposed response to them.

Now this poem:

The Ogre does what ogres can,
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach:
The Ogre cannot master speech.
About a subjugated plain,
Among it's desperate and slain,
The Ogre stalks with hands on hips,
While drivel gushes from his lips.

Is that little poem aimed at my grammar? Also it is a good poem do you have any more im runing out of books that I want to read.

You've already had an answer to this, but I'll just add that the poem is by W.H. Auden. He's quite a famous US poet and his stuff is all over the net, or in your local library.

I don't know why Ostro quoted it without giving the author's name. Pretty bad form imo.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Also, lol at irony of declaring another entire race "race-conscious".

He's not wrong.

Maybe so, but still.

[Zweite Alaje]

Even so, North Korea has enormous economic potential it would be worthy the effort. NK has a good resource base to being proper modernization. The Koreans are extremely race conscious, if the South sees an opportunity, I have no doubt it will annex the North.

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.
It can really only drag SK down, as far as I've looked into it.
Also, lol at irony of declaring another entire race "race-conscious".

It is always worthy it, the South would be improving the condition of their own people. I view the Korea situation as a civil war, because for all intents and purposes that is exactly the case. Yes it will be a strain on SK's economy, but it would reap great benefits, both material and spiritual. The Korean race would be reunited, and once the North is worked into the system. the new Korea that emerges will be much more impressive.

[The Tiger Kingdom]

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.
It can really only drag SK down, as far as I've looked into it.
Also, lol at irony of declaring another entire race "race-conscious".

It is always worthy it, the South would be improving the condition of their own people.

How? Through massive economic strain, increased taxes, probable increased competition for their jobs as compared with NK workers who will likely work for less, leading to increased tension...

I view the Korea situation as a civil war, because for all intents and purposes that is exactly the case.

It might have been, once, but now it isn't nearly as much anymore. All the families that were split by the divide are dying off and growing apart. They're effectively two different nations now, even if they're the same race.

Yes it will be a strain on SK's economy, but it would reap great benefits, both material

Maybe. Years and years down the line.

and spiritual.

Euggh.
Not buying it.

The Korean race would be reunited, and once the North is worked into the system. the new Korea that emerges will be much more impressive.

I really doubt it.

[The Rich Port]

Alright, so does that mean SK can finally win this war and get this bullshit over with?

About frickin' time, jeez.

It's only been, what, several decades?

[Russia Federation]

North Korea makes threats often. Is it just me, or have they been even more aggressive lately? Even China is getting sick of them. I wonder if their are big internal issues going on...

[Condunum]

North Korea makes threats often. Is it just me, or have they been even more aggressive lately? Even China is getting sick of them. I wonder if their are big internal issues going on...

This is actually a very usual thing for them to do, and is pretty on schedule for them.

[Grad Duchy of Luxembourg]

I just remain firmly confident that a war, especially one instigated by North Korea, is so implausible that it need not be seriously considered outside of necessary contingencies.

That's a bizarre statement. Care to back it up?

[Democratic Koyro]

The Korean economic reform worked wonders for Korea's propaganda workers:

[Slow-Declinesville]

I love the earlier comments about sabre rattling, yet there's an aful lot of people basically shouting 'AMERICA! BOO-YAH!'. Just because America gets involved in a war there is no guarantee of a simple victory- lets not forget Vietnam. And the Vietnam war wasn't exactly a gentle stroll through meadows of wild flowers.

There's also been a lot of talk about democracy being the way/only direction they can possibly go in. I don't really think democracy is neccessarily going to work out. Socialism can be evolved in an expedient and measured way, it doesn't have to be Stalinist collectivisation. Some nations seem naturally disposed toward an authoritarian leadership (just look at Russia's so called democracy, the super power of china, even Japan still has quite a structured power base)- if a war does break out I sincerely hope it doesn't end up another case of the West forcing it's ideologies on an unreceptive/unwelcoming East.

[Costa Alegria]

I love the earlier comments about sabre rattling, yet there's an aful lot of people basically shouting 'AMERICA! BOO-YAH!'. Just because America gets involved in a war there is no guarantee of a simple victory- lets not forget Vietnam. And the Vietnam war wasn't exactly a gentle stroll through meadows of wild flowers.

There's also been a lot of talk about democracy being the way/only direction they can possibly go in. I don't really think democracy is neccessarily going to work out. Socialism can be evolved in an expedient and measured way, it doesn't have to be Stalinist collectivisation. Some nations seem naturally disposed toward an authoritarian leadership (just look at Russia's so called democracy, the super power of china, even Japan still has quite a structured power base)- if a war does break out I sincerely hope it doesn't end up another case of the West forcing it's ideologies on an unreceptive/unwelcoming East.

Thing is, Vietnam was an entirely different kettle of fish. Any war with North Korea would ultimately be a fight like the First Gulf War: conventional forces pitted against conventional forces, not a farmer in a straw hat with an automatic rifle.

[Wamitoria]

I love the earlier comments about sabre rattling, yet there's an aful lot of people basically shouting 'AMERICA! BOO-YAH!'. Just because America gets involved in a war there is no guarantee of a simple victory- lets not forget Vietnam. And the Vietnam war wasn't exactly a gentle stroll through meadows of wild flowers.

There's also been a lot of talk about democracy being the way/only direction they can possibly go in. I don't really think democracy is neccessarily going to work out. Socialism can be evolved in an expedient and measured way, it doesn't have to be Stalinist collectivisation. Some nations seem naturally disposed toward an authoritarian leadership (just look at Russia's so called democracy, the super power of china, even Japan still has quite a structured power base)- if a war does break out I sincerely hope it doesn't end up another case of the West forcing it's ideologies on an unreceptive/unwelcoming East.

Thing is, Vietnam was an entirely different kettle of fish. Any war with North Korea would ultimately be a fight like the First Gulf War: conventional forces pitted against conventional forces, not a farmer in a straw hat with an automatic rifle.

Plus, the NVA was much better fed, trained, and equipped than KPA soldiers probably are.

[Unified Sith]

In all honesty, I hope NK is serious this time. It'll give NK the perfect excuse for Korean unification finally.

I agree.

As someone who is living in South Korea, I have to say that that was one of the most moronic statements I've ever seen. Over half of South Korea's population lies within artillery range of the North and as I live only a few KM from the DMZ, let me assure you, unification would be a bloody, messy affair, costing much more than the 2 million lives that were lost in the first war. But, you know, if the death of millions of people helps relieve your inconvenience of peace then, sure, I hope it works out that way.

[Unified Sith]

North Korea makes threats often. Is it just me, or have they been even more aggressive lately? Even China is getting sick of them. I wonder if their are big internal issues going on...

This is actually a very usual thing for them to do, and is pretty on schedule for them.

Indeed. The North, cutting off ties, will most likely continue to threaten South Korea, who will, in time cave and force sanctions to be lowered in some respects. For the re-introduction of the hotline and the armistice the South is going to have to pay money and give a lot of food. But that's nothing really if it means the guardianship of peace in the region.

[Unified Sith]

The deal with NK and SK is the same as it was with West and East Germany, one nation split into two. The Korean nation has been divide for far too long, it is time for the South to reclaim its northern kin. To be honest I feel the same way about China and Taiwan, the RoC needs to go.

The problem is, though that the East Germans were never as completely cut off from the world and as indoctrinated as the North Koreans have been. The main problem there was financial, not cultural or social (or mental).
To say nothing of the fact that the economic cost of reintegrating North Korea would simply be massive even in relation to the costs West Germany undertook to reintegrate the East.

Most South Koreans don't even seem to want reunification anymore. Can you blame them?

You seem to have a better handle on the situation than most posters here.

South Koreans in general do desire unification, but they want it without the massive cost involved. Initially it was thought that unification would be a fast process, however, no one was willing to pay the unification tax, proposed by president 이명박. Now the consensus is that unification will be a decades long affair, with the border remaining closed for a significant time while North Korea is improved through trade, education and economic expansion.

This was started with the sunshine policy, but the North doesn't really seem too keen on it these days.

Instead, their main concern is still the USA, who surrounds their waters, has 40,000 troops in range of their borders. Is constantly flying drones and other equipment overhead and is tightening sanctions every year. Is it any wonder why the North feels it needs a nuclear deterrent.

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

The problem is, though that the East Germans were never as completely cut off from the world and as indoctrinated as the North Koreans have been. The main problem there was financial, not cultural or social (or mental).
To say nothing of the fact that the economic cost of reintegrating North Korea would simply be massive even in relation to the costs West Germany undertook to reintegrate the East.

Most South Koreans don't even seem to want reunification anymore. Can you blame them?

You seem to have a better handle on the situation than most posters here.

South Koreans in general do desire unification, but they want it without the massive cost involved. Initially it was thought that unification would be a fast process, however, no one was willing to pay the unification tax, proposed by president 이명박. Now the consensus is that unification will be a decades long affair, with the border remaining closed for a significant time while North Korea is improved through trade, education and economic expansion.

This was started with the sunshine policy, but the North doesn't really seem too keen on it these days.

Instead, their main concern is still the USA, who surrounds their waters, has 40,000 troops in range of their borders. Is constantly flying drones and other equipment overhead and is tightening sanctions every year. Is it any wonder why the North feels it needs a nuclear deterrent.

Earlier in the thread I posted a link to this - http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... 75844.html

Seems that the Norks have a few German reunification "experts" to help plan or design some sort of transition of the Nork economy that would make reunification more plausible.

[Ethel mermania]

Are the resources in NK worth having to rehabilitate and integrate a few dozen million people and modernize an entire shitpile country? SK is doing fairly well for itself at the moment, after all.

Well, I mean, look at the trouble Germany had trying to integrate the former East Germany. It put tremendous strain on Germany's economy.

And, well, North Korea is not East Germany.

but wouldnt the germans say it was worth it?

[Yorkopolis]

The deal with NK and SK is the same as it was with West and East Germany, one nation split into two. The Korean nation has been divide for far too long, it is time for the South to reclaim its northern kin. To be honest I feel the same way about China and Taiwan, the RoC needs to go.

The problem is, though that the East Germans were never as completely cut off from the world and as indoctrinated as the North Koreans have been. The main problem there was financial, not cultural or social (or mental).
To say nothing of the fact that the economic cost of reintegrating North Korea would simply be massive even in relation to the costs West Germany undertook to reintegrate the East.

Most South Koreans don't even seem to want reunification anymore. Can you blame them?

The cost of reintegrating North Korea into South Korea would be more than 10-20 times the cost of East Germany integrating into West Germany. So yeah that's not too viable of an option to consider.

[The God-Realm]

I heard planes flying close in the sky. I had my hopes up too high.