[TigerLikesRooster]

Domestically, people in SK feel they had enough. They took all the restraints one can possibly do, and now NK has a real nuke. Allies promise that they can provide guaranteed defense. Many are skeptical. They all feel that they have to take the matters in their own hand, even if it is rather late. So they want SK's own nuclear deterrent. U.S. State Dept., arms control establishment, and Zero are all displeased. However, putting SK on even shorter leash while NK is running amok is not making a convincing case. It is a rather bureaucratically expedient move.

Anyway, because of that, U.S. are showing all kind of scary weapons(B-2, B-52, and others) to NK's Fat Boy. The trouble is that he is not backing down and up the ante in his own way. The boy used up all non-military measures now. At the same time, he always move ahead of belligerent rhetoric. He goes further than outsiders are accustomed to. NK rhetoric and threat have their own well-honed choreography. Plan, timing, execution, and climb down. He is way off this path. Things are not going right.

We all believe that NK state is dying. Clock is ticking. It is ticking faster after Kim Jong-il's death. In light of latest actions, it is ticking even faster. NK can unravel sooner than we expect. We always want to have some time cushion so that we can plan, prepare, and steer the event toward the manageable situation. However, I don't think NK situation will end in such a way. Things will end in some kind of a mess which nobody are prepared to deal with. Yes, we may predict the outcome, but the outcome would be one of the least favorable cases.

[Kartographer]

I have always felt that you can find core truths in many places, sometimes even in very unusual places, but that doesn’t take away from their truth. The line from the Movie 'Open Range'; where Charlie says: "There's somethings that gnaw on a man worse than dieing." is one such core truth I have found in a movie. There are many others.

The one I want you to think of now is from the movie 'The Dark Knight'; Where Alfred Pennyworth says: "Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."

[no-to-illegals]

Thank You. Much appreciation.

[DaxtonBrown]

Yup, thanks Tiger. I’m sure a lot of us have been looking for some perspective not available here.

[no-to-illegals]

Sometimes the more I read the more I wish I had not read ... From Article am Posting from December 19, 2012 ... Do the North Korean Space Objects Pose a Threat? Not right now, and maybe not ever. All four North Korean space objects are in normal, predictable orbits and are being tracked regularly by both the US military and amateur observers around the world. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-12/19/north-korean-satellite?page=all ... Note there are four NK space objects according to article.

[Prince of Space]

Great. My daughter is going to Japan at the end of the month for 3 weeks to visit a friend. Now I’m totally freaked out about her trip. Tell me I’m over-reacting, please.

[familyop]

"Allies promise that they can provide guaranteed defense. Many are skeptical."

Koreans have good reasons to be skeptical, but there are several layers of defense against large missiles--not only one layer. You also see in the skies, that the artillery of the North would be quieted as quickly as possible.

"They all feel that they have to take the matters in their own hand, even if it is rather late. So they want SK's own nuclear deterrent."

South Korean people would be most disciplined, responsible and dependable with nuclear weapons. Our world would be a better place. I would trust you.

But TLR, free Koreans of the South have a very old and great strength. I know that strength is in you. I am very near a sensitive installation, friend. Let's look at the sky and smile. It's a great day to be free Koreans and Americans! May we become stronger and better each day than the day before.

[Colorado Doug]

Have you heard if all of the South Koreans have made it safely back across the border? I would hate to see them become hostages. It’s going to be hard to get people to go there ever again after this settles down. (one way or another)

[little jeremiah]

Tiger, if you do a North Korea events ping list, could you add me?

Hope all is well with you.

[familyop]

"NK rhetoric and threat have their own well-honed choreography. Plan, timing, execution, and climb down. He is way off this path. Things are not going right."

Thank you very much for telling us what is happening. When threats from the enemy show that he will probably do the worst, should we make the enemy as angry, hysterical and useless as possible? Should we maybe avoid allowing the enemy to be calm?

[1010RD]

We always want to have some time cushion so that we can plan, prepare, and steer the event toward the manageable situation.

We've had plenty of time to steer this. For at minimum a decade we've known that NK was dying. The Chinese prop them up, not because they cannot see that SK is the winning model. But, because admitting it ruins the lie they're currently living.

The plans in place, but the Red Chinese can't live with the outcome. Liberalism is contra-truth.