N. and S. Korea Exchange fire

[Gandalf]

Seriously, nothing will come of this. Lee Myong Park needs to sound tough, but in reality he will do nothing. Nothing happened with the sinking of the Cheonan and nothing much will come of this either. Meanwhile North Korea will be able to announce some propaganda victory to boost their own positions of power.

South Korea on the surface likes to think of the North Koreans as their brothers, but at the same time are very happy with the economic development and accompanying benefits that have come with it. South Korea will tolerate a little bit of this every couple of years or so and just let it go. A few harsh public words, but then life as usual. They don't want North Korea to collapse and they certainly don't want a repeat of what happened when the two Germany's were eventually reuinified. There were hundreds of thousands protesting about the evils of US beef a few years ago, how many ever go out and protest at the plight of the North Korean proletariat?

I think the reactions in the international community will be much stronger than anything you will ever see on streets of Seoul. It's a little bit of shock, but then back to work as usual. People don't care too much about North Korea. You just ignore it and hope it will go away and then they shoot rockets for a bit of attention...then you just ignore them again until the next time. There is no doubt that the North is random and quite unpredictable. There was really no reason nor need for this.

The inherent selfishness of capitalism has won out in the South, but at the same time the inherent evils of totalitarianism means that the North Koreans continue to suffer at the hands of a despicable regime.

However from the American perspective at this particular time, there is a need for political capital on both sides of the aisle here in the US, especially as this comes on the heels of a landscape redefining mid-term election. The democratic party including Obama, are desperately trying to find a platform that they can connect with most people in the US. The House of Representitives has just undergone a massive exchange in seats and is now under Republican control, they also need a cause to prove that the American people have made the right decision.

Contrary to party tag lines, neither party can institute any domestic policy that will have an immediate stimulatory affect on the economy, nor unemployment.

"We will stand by South Korea and are firmly committed to defending our ally." - Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio (Speaker of the House)

"We must stand in solidarity with the Republic of Korea and with all those who desire peace and stability in that region." - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

I wouldn't put anything past the US in their unceasing quest to chage regimes without planning nor foresight, but would really be surprised if this led to anything as serious as that. China is the key power in the region and they are not going to sit by and watch North Korea be bombed to smithereens. Likewise, South Korea will not want the possibility of the North collapsing and having to integrate millions of North Koreans. It's a burden nobody in the region wants, so though nobody likes what North Korea has done, it is better for the vested interests to maintain stablility in the region. Plus if America attacks North Korea, then Seoul will be vaporised. IMO that is not such a bad thing as I hate Seoul, but I say that in jest. Nobody wants to see anything as nuts as that. America simply couldn't take that risk.

[killersheep]

Seriously, nothing will come of this. Lee Myong Park needs to sound tough, but in reality he will do nothing. Nothing happened with the sinking of the Cheonan and nothing much will come of this either. Meanwhile North Korea will be able to announce some propaganda victory to boost their own positions of power.

South Korea on the surface likes to think of the North Koreans as their brothers, but at the same time are very happy with the economic development and accompanying benefits that have come with it. South Korea will tolerate a little bit of this every couple of years or so and just let it go. A few harsh public words, but then life as usual. They don't want North Korea to collapse and they certainly don't want a repeat of what happened when the two Germany's were eventually reuinified. There were hundreds of thousands protesting about the evils of US beef a few years ago, how many ever go out and protest at the plight of the North Korean proletariat?

I think the reactions in the international community will be much stronger than anything you will ever see on streets of Seoul. It's a little bit of shock, but then back to work as usual. People don't care too much about North Korea. You just ignore it and hope it will go away and then they shoot rockets for a bit of attention...then you just ignore them again until the next time. There is no doubt that the North is random and quite unpredictable. There was really no reason nor need for this.

The inherent selfishness of capitalism has won out in the South, but at the same time the inherent evils of totalitarianism means that the North Koreans continue to suffer at the hands of a despicable regime.

However from the American perspective at this particular time, there is a need for political capital on both sides of the aisle here in the US, especially as this comes on the heels of a landscape redefining mid-term election. The democratic party including Obama, are desperately trying to find a platform that they can connect with most people in the US. The House of Representitives has just undergone a massive exchange in seats and is now under Republican control, they also need a cause to prove that the American people have made the right decision.

Contrary to party tag lines, neither party can institute any domestic policy that will have an immediate stimulatory affect on the economy, nor unemployment.

"We will stand by South Korea and are firmly committed to defending our ally." - Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio (Speaker of the House)

"We must stand in solidarity with the Republic of Korea and with all those who desire peace and stability in that region." - Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.

I wouldn't put anything past the US in their unceasing quest to chage regimes without planning nor foresight, but would really be surprised if this led to anything as serious as that. China is the key power in the region and they are not going to sit by and watch North Korea be bombed to smithereens. Likewise, South Korea will not want the possibility of the North collapsing and having to integrate millions of North Koreans. It's a burden nobody in the region wants, so though nobody likes what North Korea has done, it is better for the vested interests to maintain stablility in the region. Plus if America attacks North Korea, then Seoul will be vaporised. IMO that is not such a bad thing as I hate Seoul, but I say that in jest. Nobody wants to see anything as nuts as that. America simply couldn't take that risk.

America has been in a cold war before, and this has the overall feel to me of a development for another, this time with China. Using South/North Koreas as proxies. I can see an Eastern Bloc situation as a possibility to develop. I agree that the US will not directly invade North Korea ala Afghanistan, but stategic developments and reenforcement of American military bases could certainly be something that we see in the short term, meanwhile back in Washington in Congress a debate of a plan of action will take place as the The White House attempts to garner international support for a multilateral security force.

[0james0]

South Korean yes, US no.

They sunk a Korean sub a few months ago killing 50.

[Andre]

Oh, ok, I thought US ships were going to join in eventually.