Posted on 10/11/2006 4:51:31 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
REPORTS of a possible second North Korean nuclear test have been played down by Washington and Tokyo. It was small comfort for South Korea, however, which is preparing for war.
While the rest of the world ponders sanctions, South Korea's military meanwhile was checking its readiness for nuclear war, Yonhap news agency reported today.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported to Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung the need for verifying and improving troops' capabilities, Yonhap said.
The worldwide alarm underlined the jitters felt after North Korea announced it had tested its first nuclear bomb, leading to a US-backed push to have the UN Security Council sanction the reclusive communist state.
Some say the regime may conduct more tests amid suspicion the first, relatively small explosion might have partially failed.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported the possible second test today, but the US Geological Survey said it had detected a 5.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of northern Japan which appeared to be the source of speculation that North Korea had tested another nuclear device.
A senior Bush administration official, responding to a reporter's query about a possible second nuclear weapons test in North Korea, said that was apparently a false report.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
I have this feeling the little dog-eating dictator is going to do something very stupid. Who will have the guts to put him down.
They've been constantly "preparing for war".
Hard to make much of the threats anymore.
I wonder what's going to happen to S. Korea's attitude to the US now? Best buds? Shouldn't we leave them alone like they want?
Your comment was on line with my thinking. How will this effect the planned withdrawal of US troops scheduled to be withdrawn over the next few years.
Certainly would not want to invest in Seoul.
"I wouldn't want to be in the South Koreans' shoes at the minute..."
South Korea should openly ask the United States for nukes to counter North Koreas. The US should say yes and also offer Japan, Taiwan and maybe Poland nuclear capability.
That would end this.
Considering how Seoul is targeted by thousands of rockets, the Dems complaining about Bush are pointless electioneering. That said, the "Sunshine Policy" is as stupid as it sounds. Hope SK finally realizes who the real enemy is.
I couldn't agree with your post more.
A large portion of the world bashes us when things are stable, but when the sh!t hits the fan, America is the first country they cry for.
I'm tempted to stay pull out of S Korea. Of course I'm also tempted to say pull out of most of the blue states too, and let them fend for themselves against the onslaught of terrorists.
Guess I'm getting tired of hearing the belly-aching.
Their Military issued a statement today that they will NEVER go Nuke. Look for both nations to be boiling bark for food in the near future.
LLS
Now that N.Korea has tested a nuke I feel we no longer need the "trip wire" of troops...pull the 50,000 or so boys out.
Given their rhetoric over the past few years regarding American troops on SK soil, I reckon that it will take massing of NK troops on the border or shelling of Seoul before this generation of South Koreans, by and large, realize who their friends are. We're several generations removed from actual war in SK and clearly the appeasers are still in charge there......
--They've been constantly "preparing for war".
Hard to make much of the threats anymore.--
Precisely. If you look up the phrase "sellin' wolf tickets" in a dictionary of urban slang, you'll see L'il Kim's (as in Jong-Il) face next to the definition. The North Koreans talk sexy, but this nuke test, along with the abortive missile tests this summer, shows that they can't "rise to the occasion", if you get my drift.
Is the South Korean military still as ruthless as it was in Vietnam?
"A large portion of the world bashes us when things are stable, but when the sh!t hits the fan, America is the first country they cry for."
Amen!!
The South Koreans are a bunch of appeasers and cowards.
"The South Koreans are a bunch of appeasers and cowards"
True, and the United States has a bad habit of supporting appeasers and cowards (France and South Vietnam somehow spring to mind), but the ROKs have a real worry that if communism in NK collapses, they'll be stuck with a poverty stricken dungheap that would cost hundreds of billions of dollars to rehabilitate. "West" Germany had a tough time absorbing the former DDR; the DDR had an economy and living standard about equal to Italy's (not too bad); North Korea is bascially Haiti with smokestacks!
I, too, have been thinking along these lines for several days now. I wonder how the prospect of living under the glorious reign of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il, toiling ceaselessly for the betterment of the masses is going over? Where are all the student protestors now?
I should imagine they're all soiling their undies and making surrender flags (or maybe ordering them on-line from France!)
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