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Hundreds halted at border after NKorea cuts phone lines (S Koreans also stranded inside NK)
AFP ^ | 03/09/09

Posted on 03/09/2009 12:03:47 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

Hundreds halted at border after NKorea cuts phone lines

4 hours ago

SEOUL (AFP) — More than 700 South Koreans were blocked from travelling to a joint industrial complex in North Korea on Monday after Pyongyang cut its last communication channel with Seoul, officials said.

Seoul's unification ministry said 726 people were unable to travel to the Kaesong complex just north of the border.

The North said early Monday that it would cut off military phone lines with the South, the last remaining communications channel, in protest at a joint US-South Korean military exercise which started Monday.

It ordered its 1.2-million-member military to be fully combat-ready, saying the joint exercise was aimed at launching a "second Korean War."

"As an immediate measure we will enforce a more strict military control and cut off the north-south military communications," a military spokesman said.

"It is nonsensical to maintain a normal communications channel at a time when the South Korean puppets are getting frantic with the above-said war exercises, levelling guns at fellow countrymen in league with foreign forces."

South Koreans cannot cross the border without approval by North Korea through the military communications lines.

The unification ministry said the 726 includes those working in the complex and civilian groups trying to visit Kaesong for other purposes. It said truck traffic was also halted.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hostage; nkorea; skorea; tension
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I knew this would happen some day: S. Korean employees working at industry park inside NK stranded and turning into potential hostages for N. Korea.
1 posted on 03/09/2009 12:03:48 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

I’m sure Madeline Halfbright, Jr. will soothe the savage DPRK beasts with a “that was easy” button or some such...


2 posted on 03/09/2009 12:07:33 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet ("To insist on strength is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering." Barry Goldwater)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo; Steel Wolf; nuconvert; MizSterious; nw_arizona_granny; ...

Ping!


3 posted on 03/09/2009 12:15:59 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (from "Irrational Exuberance" to "Mark to Zero": from '96 to '09)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Something is cooking, an imminent missile?

North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong Il has been unanimously elected to the parliament, state media said Monday.

The official KCNA quoted the election committee as saying that the leader gained 100 percent approvals following a 100 percent turnout.

“This is the expression of all service persons and people’s absolute support and profound trust in Kim Jong Il,” KCNA said.

http://www.newspostonline.com/world-news/north-korean-top-leader-elected-to-parliament-2009030938609

I'm sorry that the approval was only 100 %, he deserves more than that ;-)

4 posted on 03/09/2009 12:34:52 AM PDT by AdmSmith
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Re: with a “that was easy” button or some such...

Well, understanding how the Hillderbeast is prone with getting it wrong... as per http://www.worldlingo.com/en/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html it says "쉬운" is Korean for "easy."

BTW here is some eye candy... for ya!

5 posted on 03/09/2009 12:58:54 AM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Rut roh


6 posted on 03/09/2009 1:02:30 AM PDT by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
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To: Bender2

Second To None!! Fit To Fight!! Knowledge For Battle!! (102d Military Intelligence Battalion)

7 posted on 03/09/2009 1:03:23 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet ("To insist on strength is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering." Barry Goldwater)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Kim Jong-Il's Approval Rating Plummets to 120%
8 posted on 03/09/2009 1:10:06 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (01-20-2009 : The end of the PAX AMERICANA.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
It ordered its 1.2-million-member military to be fully combat-ready, saying the joint exercise was aimed at launching a "second Korean War."

To borrow from an old soviet joke..."we pretend to attack them and they pretend to defend against it" Kim has his finger off the real trigger, but I still don't like him trying to launch ICBM's, err satellites.

9 posted on 03/09/2009 1:14:19 AM PDT by Dosa26
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Re: Second To None!!

Hun? Had a 1st Division guys tell me... it was "Second to Nuns!!"

};^b)

10 posted on 03/09/2009 1:26:09 AM PDT by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Remember the Pueblo


11 posted on 03/09/2009 1:38:47 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse (America needs to be lead by warriors , not lawyers)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

I don’t like the way this is developing, all it will take is for the missile to fail for them to say it was shot down
and launch an attack.


12 posted on 03/09/2009 2:03:45 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Are we still sending food and other aid to these bastards?


13 posted on 03/09/2009 2:22:26 AM PDT by panaxanax (Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those that don't.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

"We have a diplomatic emergency! QUICK - Order me 50,000 cheap, gimmicky plastic buttons and have someone find out how to say "RESET" in North Korean!"

14 posted on 03/09/2009 2:36:45 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: tet68

I agree. On one hand, threats from the DPRK are common and usually quite graphic. I recall them threatening to turn Seoul into a ‘sea of fire’ and at one point claiming they could destroy Los Angeles.

But, the political landscape is vastly different this year. Kim Jong-Il may or may not be in control. We have a weak president and a military which would be hard-pressed to project enough manpower to deal with a conventional attack. I see this as a test from the North, but a dangerous test. I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to probe the DMZ when ROK/US troops are running exercises - but an ‘accidental’ skirmish could spiral out of control very quickly.


15 posted on 03/09/2009 2:46:27 AM PDT by Cap74 (You can disagree with me. You can attack me. Do not lie to me.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
In general, I'm not sure the American public quite understands the Korean situation. Technically, the two sides remain in a state of war and there have been numerous border clashes, kidnappings, terrorist acts, etc. Perhaps the true nature of the DPRK isn't widely talked about as it's the last true hardcore Stalinist state. Maybe the New York Times can produce a modern-day Duranty or Stone to go over there and tell us there's nothing to see here, folks...

http://www.koreanwar.org/html/dmz_war.html

16 posted on 03/09/2009 2:53:43 AM PDT by Cap74 (You can disagree with me. You can attack me. Do not lie to me.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Ok, this is not good.


17 posted on 03/09/2009 3:30:33 AM PDT by autumnraine (Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose- Kris Kristoferrson VIVA LA REVOLUTION!)
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To: Cap74
Perhaps the true nature of the DPRK isn't widely talked about as it's the last true hardcore Stalinist state.

You forgot Massachusetts and the Bay Area of California...

Cheers!

18 posted on 03/09/2009 4:03:54 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

The Norks always act up during this time. Every d#$n year, like clockwork... And every year, the world trembles in terror, having forgotten what happened just one year prior.


19 posted on 03/09/2009 5:05:04 AM PDT by gogogodzilla (Live free or die!)
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To: tet68
Yes. Miscalculation, misinterpretation, misguided leaders/generals, one rifleman with a nervous tic. This is some nasty soup.

Dig up an article on No Korea from 10-15 years ago and it is as relevant today as it was when written. Isolated, starving, led by a despot who is as out of sync with reality as he is paranoid, armed to the teeth with antiquated but no less lethal weapons systems. . . . And now they sever communications after issuing a warning that they will retaliate for ANY response to the nuclear capable missile they are about to launch?

Yes; this is some nasty soup for sure.

The entire article is good—especially when read with 15 years of 20/20 hindsight—and page 8 is very good. A Websearch is certainly worth the time.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/940620/archive_011982.htm

20 posted on 03/09/2009 5:19:24 AM PDT by shoutingandpointing
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