Will war break out in Korea in 2013?

[Loki]

American media propaganda is that NK is a threat and must be "taken out". You are the one clearly affected by this. Kim Jong Eun is not his grandfather. He has no power. He is not worshiped. He was not part of his country's liberation. There was never such propaganda about Kim Il Sung or even Kim Jong il (who was tolerated as being the "little leader")

Old weapons can be deadly, you are right. But I doubt you really think they'll occupy Seoul with T34's. There won't be a war- but if there is- there will be a bloody mess and it'll be over. No experts outside of youtube think different.

No, the type of propaganda of the Americans is that North Korea is such a miserable country whose population don't appreciate their government, or that Kim Jong Un is nothing. They obviously go on to exaggerate, and in the process try and humiliate North Korea - in order to break their morale. It's an old strategy of pre-war propaganda. The Americans are especially good at it.

You sound very confident out there and that is good to hear. At least you're not panicking.

[Scholarios]

No, the type of propaganda of the Americans is that North Korea is such a miserable country whose population don't appreciate their government, or that Kim Jong Un is nothing. They obviously go on to exaggerate, and in the process try and humiliate North Korea - in order to break their morale. It's an old strategy of pre-war propaganda. The Americans are especially good at it.

You sound very confident out there and that is good to hear. At least you're not panicking.

Loki, it's easy to see how you can think that. But when you remember that NK's are not subject to Western propaganda (or even South Korean propaganda), you can see that there is little possibility of this propaganda being heard by the North- at least common people in large doses. The North creates a feeling, an outward appearance of solidarity, martial spirit, etc. as it's their main defense against a possible preemptive invasion. The regime does have support- in a way that is difficult for Westerners to understand- (it's also a common theme in the South where 'dirty laundry' is likely to go unaired, though it's technically in the open for everyone to see).

It is fair to say that the propaganda produced for outside consumption has similarities to that inside. However, though they project themselves as "wanting to belong to the world community" to the outside world, the image within NK is different- that they are forever enemies with Japan, America, and the "lackey state".

But one shouldn't confuse their belief in the essence of their country raison d'etre (true or false, in a literal sense) with faith in their leader- especially this leader, whose upgrading to general and leader was very controversial- as far as these things go in a One Party state.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...le_Lifestyle_3

These BR Myers article in WSJ describes the dichotomy of fanatical support contrasted with widespread cynicism and apathy that characterizes a state that has little in the way of actual concrete ideology.

[Loki]

Loki, it's easy to see how you can think that. But when you remember that NK's are not subject to Western propaganda (or even South Korean propaganda), you can see that there is little possibility of this propaganda being heard by the North- at least common people in large doses. The North creates a feeling, an outward appearance of solidarity, martial spirit, etc. as it's their main defense against a possible preemptive invasion. The regime does have support- in a way that is difficult for Westerners to understand- (it's also a common theme in the South where 'dirty laundry' is likely to go unaired, though it's technically in the open for everyone to see).

It is fair to say that the propaganda produced for outside consumption has similarities to that inside. However, though they project themselves as "wanting to belong to the world community" to the outside world, the image within NK is different- that they are forever enemies with Japan, America, and the "lackey state".

But one shouldn't confuse their belief in the essence of their country raison d'etre (true or false, in a literal sense) with faith in their leader- especially this leader, whose upgrading to general and leader was very controversial- as far as these things go in a One Party state.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...le_Lifestyle_3

These BR Myers article in WSJ describes the dichotomy of fanatical support contrasted with widespread cynicism and apathy that characterizes a state that has little in the way of actual concrete ideology.

The propaganda is for our ears in the West, in order to condition us to think: "those poor North Koreans, we need to liberate them as we liberated the Iraqis".

America can easily go to the table directly and talk with North Korea. But they refuse to do so because of its nuclear programme, and it's actually the sanctions on North Korea that is making it increasingly desperate and more prone to go to war. Sanctions are not helping at all to cool the climate.

[Stefan]

The propaganda is for our ears in the West, in order to condition us to think: "those poor North Koreans, we need to liberate them as we liberated the Iraqis".

America can easily go to the table directly and talk with North Korea. But they refuse to do so because of its nuclear programme, and it's actually the sanctions on North Korea that is making it increasingly desperate and more prone to go to war. Sanctions are not helping at all to cool the climate.

I generally agree. I wouldn't call it false propaganda, but it's propaganda nevertheless. Either way it should not be the business of the U.S. Having said that North Korea won't go to war unless the U.S attacks it. The leadership of North Korea is in a fragile position and war would effectively kill them.

[Loki]

I generally agree. I wouldn't call it false propaganda, but it's propaganda nevertheless. Either way it should not be the business of the U.S. Having said that North Korea won't go to war unless the U.S attacks it. The leadership of North Korea is in a fragile position and war would effectively kill them.

Of course they won't. I think the world should just accept that NK is a nuclear country. They accept Israel, who wouldn't even sign the non-proliferation treaty. Sanctions on NK are very damaging, it hurts only the people of NK not Kim Jong Un.

[civilian]

It's 2015, the war did not break out overall.
I don't think there'll be a war between North Korea and South Korea ever in the future.
US said N.Korea will have a self-end of their dictatorship which is coming from the downfall of their isolated economy.

[Germanicus]

I generally agree. I wouldn't call it false propaganda, but it's propaganda nevertheless. Either way it should not be the business of the U.S. Having said that North Korea won't go to war unless the U.S attacks it. The leadership of North Korea is in a fragile position and war would effectively kill them.

There will be countless moments when the North Koreans verbally attack the United States to prove that they are being tough. But it is best to resist the natural urge to strike back. Otherwise your talks could easily bog down in useless exchanges. Once during a visit to a North Korean nuclear facility, the chief engineer harangued about American hostility for what seemed like an eternity. He decided to move on after he was done and, sure enough, they then got down to business. On the other hand, there are times when counterattacking is essential, especially when North Koreans pull back from what you thought was a done deal, as they often do.

And there are rare but perfect moments when you can let it rip. A classic case in point: After listening to a dull North Korean bureaucrat ramble on about America's hostile policy during a coffee break, a State Department colleague pointed out to him that if the U.S. had been that hostile, the North Korean literally wouldn't have been there (physically). Point made; the initial shock gave way to another diatribe.

[Drawing-slim]

Take US nuclear weapons out of the play and North Korea would kick anyone's ass.

[Germanicus]

Take US nuclear weapons out of the play and North Korea would kick anyone's ass.

France could pulverise North Korea with just one Aircraft carrier!