Posted on 10/13/2011 6:07:14 AM PDT by jhpigott
N.Korea Moves Arms Closer to Border 10/13/11
North Korea has recently moved fighter jets near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border, and ground-to-air missiles close to Baeknyeong Island. There is speculation that it plans a minor provocation while South Korean president Lee Myung-bak visits the U.S. since any show of unity between the two allies tends to incense the North.
"The North Korean military was seen moving mobile missile launchers at a ground-to-ship missile base near the NLL," a government source said. "There's likelihood that the North will launch a military provocation" while Lee is away.
The government is closely watching movements of North Korean artillery units.
An intelligence source said, "The North Korean Army is showing movements similar to those seen right before it shelled Yeonpyeong Island last year."
Lee was quoted by a source as saying prior to his departure for Washington, "If the North launches a provocation during a Seoul-Washington summit, it will become an international issue rather than a domestic one." He instructed the military to "strongly respond" if the North does.
ping
Probably.
One thing I would keep an eye out for is if Kim or his son take a visit to one of their bases near the NLL. That seems to be their modis operandi before an attack.
The timing is right for them if they are watching. I think China is hoping N.Korea starts something more than a minor provocation.
We have certainly taken our eye off the ball in that part of Asia for a while. I don’t know what threat NK really poses if things were to escalate. But China’s intervention to rein in N.Korea would solidify China’s position as a “world militay power.”
The US would be to slow to react as we would mull over how to “help” South Korea.
They are shaking us down for more foreign aid.
The south needs to deal with this despot once and for all. Accept the fact that the next mini-attack by the North will be a trigger for a swift and massive counterattack.
No words or saber rattling, just surprise the hell out of them.
They do this all the time.
They sank a ship, they shelled an island. They know the south won’t do anything short of an all-out attack. Obama would probably still call for restraint. heh.
Even their army and potemkin villagers are getting really skinny from what I have read. You can imagine that all the regular people are really starving, especially the kobetchi (however that is spelled).
Too bad commies don’t believe in welfare for the poor after they have destroyed all the for-profit enterprises. But, nah, couldn’t happen here. /sarc
Do what all the time? Move forces up to the border?
The NORKs have also shown a propsensity the last couple years of actually shooting at S. Korea so I wouldn’t just blow this off as gamesmenship
Bump
If China were smart, they would simply annex North Korea, by force if necessary. Sounds rediculous right?
The Chinese could get away with it by simply stating, “North Korea was destabilizing the region, treating it’s people bad and developing nuclear weapons irrisponsibly. Something had to be done.”
Suddenly the world would think, “Wow. What a bold and compassionate champion of peice and human rights this new gentler communist nation has become.”
China is on the verge of needing to show some military muscle to match the perception of their financial strength. They are looking for more global influence and that is the way it happens.
With Obama in office and our military in the “less then ready” position it’s in, the timing scares me, strategically.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak paid an unprecedented visit to the Pentagon on Wednesday and received a briefing from top American military officials on North Korea and other security issues, the presidential office said.
Lee is the first South Korean president to visit the Pentagon.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/10/13/0200000000AEN20111013005800315.HTML
got to wonder if this little visit to the Pentagon was connected to the above referenced NK troop movements
I guess the NORK’s are running low on food again. Time to stir up some trouble to get the West to pledge more shipments if the NORK’s promise to behave.
Yes.
Every few weeks they are either moving forces, threatening war or some sort of aggressive feint.
After a few weeks, they go right back.
Yep, as predictable as the leaves changing color - and always around the same time of year.
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