Nork!

[Bando]

So things with North Korea, they're not so good. Two things strike me here:

1. Every North Korean action here, from the torpedoing to the cut off of relations with the ROK, hurts the DPRK more than anyone else. A bunch of rationalizations are floating around, to a breakdown in command in the DPRK army, to Kim Jong-Il's need to act defiantly for domestic propaganda purposes. All the explanations are somewhat satisfying and somewhat lacking. Thoughts?

2. I remarked a while ago that the end of the DPRK will be ushered in when China starts seeing a refugee crisis on it's border as a lesser of two evils. Recent developments are probably a step in that direction.

I don't have to go into why all-out war is an outcome that should be avoided at nearly all costs, right?

[Boz]

Is Team America available?

[Bando]

I don't think a speech about EDITED, EDITED, and EDITED is going to save us this time.

[Boz]

May 26, 2010 18:55:48 GMT -5 Bando said:

I don't think a speech about EDITED, EDITED, and EDITED is going to save us this time.

No, but I'd pay cash to watch Hillary deliver it.

Sorry, I know you're trying to have a serious discussion about this. I'll stop.

[The Stig]

I think something major happened in the North Korean leadership. I'm sure there are some very powerful figures in the North Korean power structure whose power relies upon the conflict with the South. With the leadership either about to change or having already changed (who knows?), these figures need to make absolutely sure that the new leader doesn't pull a Gorbachev.

[Bando]

Isn't the new leader supposed to be Kim's son, though? Or are you saying someone in the military is trying to make a play?

And Boz, your lightening of the mood is both appreciated and welcome.

[The Stig]

Maybe. When it comes to North Korea, we can never really be sure.

But I don't think somebody is trying to take power for themselves. Rather, I think they're trying to make sure that the new leader doesn't go down the peace path. Who knows, maybe there's somebody close to the new leader who's whispering peaceful thoughts in his ear? Carrying out an act of war that ratchets up tensions in a huge way is a pretty effective (if incredibly dangerous) way to close off the peace path for a long time.

[Boz]

What's disappointing -- yet oh, so unsurprising -- is that there is scarcely any coverage of this in American news. Certainly not broadcast news anyway.

There is some, yes, but most of what I've read or seen about this conflict (can we call it that? probably not the right word) is mainly from international news organizations.

Our media really has become somewhat of a parody. And I level that criticism at both liberal AND conservative outlets.

That opinion aside, I'm going to be shocked if there isn't some new, serious clash in the Yellow Sea in the next few days.


As for the Nork power structure, I was under the same impression as Bando. I'd be interested to learn of there have been other developments in the North Korean leadership.

I did find this from Fareed Zakaria, but he only hints that there may be some factionalism in North Korea. Basically he says, "no one really knows.":

edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/05/27/zakaria.korea.china/

EDIT: As you just pointed out, Stig.

[The Stig]

May 27, 2010 10:24:29 GMT -5 Boz said:

Our media really has become somewhat of a parody. And I level that criticism at both liberal AND conservative outlets.

Amen, amen, amen. The only things you get from American TV news these days is crap and fluff.

The sad thing is that the only quality part of the American media scene (newspapers) is hemorrhaging money, while the godawful TV media is sitting pretty.

Getting back to North Korea, China is really the only nation that can really punish North Korea for this. The US and South Korea have plenty of carrots to offer the North, but they really don't have any sticks. Carrots are obviously not appropriate for this situation, so the US and South Korea really can't do much.

[Boz]

I was only able to listen to part of the PC, but I don't think a single reporter asked him about Korea.

Sure, it's understandable that much of the time would be devoted to the Gulf. But even with that, Helen Thomas managed to cackle out a completely oblivious question about Afghanistan.

If I missed something, someone can correct me, but I don't think it was even brought up.


EDIT: Correcting myself from earlier, it seems as though one reporter did try to get one last question in about North Korea as the press conference was ending, but Obama was already walking away from the podium.

[SirSaxa]

May 27, 2010 12:02:41 GMT -5 The Stig said:

May 27, 2010 10:24:29 GMT -5 Boz said:

Our media really has become somewhat of a parody. And I level that criticism at both liberal AND conservative outlets.

Amen, amen, amen. The only things you get from American TV news these days is crap and fluff.

It seems to me that neither Boz nor The Stig are watching the PBS News Hour -- far and away the best news broadcast in America.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

May 27, 2010 13:35:22 GMT -5 SirSaxa said:

May 27, 2010 12:02:41 GMT -5 The Stig said:

Amen, amen, amen. The only things you get from American TV news these days is crap and fluff.

It seems to me that neither Boz nor The Stig are watching the PBS News Hour -- far and away the best news broadcast in America.

+1

And Lehrer is the best anchor in the US, hands down.

[Boz]

Well, you're right that I don't normally watch that program.

Frankly I don't watch TV news for "news" that much anymore at all. I watch for opinions, but that's about it. I've usually read a lot about any given situation by the time it breaks on "the news."

But the obvious question is being begged at the moment: Is Jim Lehrer, in fact, covering the North Korea-South Korea story?

If so, I'll try to remember to watch.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

May 28, 2010 13:30:25 GMT -5 Boz said:

Well, you're right that I don't normally watch that program.

Frankly I don't watch TV news for "news" that much anymore at all. I watch for opinions, but that's about it. I've usually read a lot about any given situation by the time it breaks on "the news."

But the obvious question is being begged at the moment: Is Jim Lehrer, in fact, covering the North Korea-South Korea story?

If so, I'll try to remember to watch.

That's a good question Boz. I dunno ... been out of town the past two weeks. SirSaxa?

[SSHoya]

www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june10/southkorea_05-20.html

[Coast2CoastHoya]

Thanks, SS.

[SirSaxa]

May 28, 2010 13:31:44 GMT -5 Coast2CoastHoya said:

That's a good question Boz. I dunno ... been out of town the past two weeks. SirSaxa?

Sorry I didn't see your post earlier, C2C. But SSHoya - thanks for providing the info requested.

Additional PBS News Hour coverage includes the following:

May 20
[url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june10/southkorea2_05-20.html
]Korean Ship Sinking Controversy could derail nuclear progress[/url][/b][/size]

May 24
U.S. Officials Press China on North Korea, Trade

May 24
[url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/jan-june10/korea1_05-24.html
]South Korea Halts Trade with North over ship-sinking incident[/url][/b][/size]

May 24
Asia Experts Debate Road Ahead for U.S. Over Korean Strife

May 27
North and South Korea Turn to Psychological Tactics


For future reference, any major story -- that is, truly important stories as opposed to front page tabloid fare -- will be well-covered by the PBS Newshour. If you are as frustrated and disappointed with the highly partisan focus on minutiae on the cable news outlets, you might try the PBS Newshour and also BBC America.

[Boz]

Bad news out of North Korea....

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/24/2936414.htm

....if Kim Jong Il gets his way, our national debt is about to get a whole lot worse.





Also, in reference to my previous angst about an imminent shooting war in the Yellow Sea, I'd also like to take this moment to say that one of these days I, Charlie Brown, will refuse to let Lucy, North Korea, get me to run up to that damn football that she's just going to pull away from me.

[The Stig]

It appears North Korea is slightly unhappy that the US and South Korea will be holding wargames in the Sea of Japan: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10748148