tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post5315425569394588294..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: ROKS Cheonan -- What You Need to Know, What You Need to Think AboutT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-49656587467677563282012-01-29T08:11:04.002-05:002012-01-29T08:11:04.002-05:00Just so you guys know, if the war between SK and N...Just so you guys know, if the war between SK and NK occurs Seoul, the Cap city of SK, turns into ashes in 7 min.<br />I know this cuz I was in the army stationed Korea. <br />Oh. SK will win the war for sure, but more than half of the population will die in less than a day.G.greathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04095189753093757461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-41932073371757051602010-11-29T09:00:02.029-05:002010-11-29T09:00:02.029-05:00That is what North Korea says about the latest inc...That is what North Korea says about the latest incident.<br />http://wp.me/p11mt3-NI<br /><br />Here is an objective view on North Korea.<br />http://redkorea.wordpress.com/Kostashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06922954111891324175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-40218176127696717622010-06-23T04:18:49.588-04:002010-06-23T04:18:49.588-04:00@let88
There is the theory that China wants to ta...@let88<br /><br />There is the theory that China wants to take over North Korea, but I don't buy it, because China's biggest fear about the NK situation is the huge influx of refugees that would enter China if the current regime collapses.<br /><br />NK in the past had the support of the Soviet Union and China, so that's interesting that you mention some sort of alliance, but Russia probably would have nothing to gain from defending North Korea.The Seoul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04433656828663327427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-91824438703960636962010-06-21T17:21:55.420-04:002010-06-21T17:21:55.420-04:00Korean
I had a class this last semester exploring...Korean<br /><br />I had a class this last semester exploring this issue for awhile and two things have been bothering me since. Would you mind some clarification?<br /><br />I believe my Professor said that China would not try to help SK because it want's to take over North Korea and an official split between the two would be beneficial to China. <br /><br />Another thing I'm concerned about is what if NK makes an alliance with other nearby nations such as Russia in case of that full scale war?<br /><br />My memory has been hazy about some historical aspects of SK but if they did separate would china or corrupt border officials continue helping those who want to leave NK?<br /><br />Please help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-2908363156212378152010-06-02T11:11:16.629-04:002010-06-02T11:11:16.629-04:00An interview with a former North Korean submarine ...An interview with a former North Korean submarine helmsman who believes NK was behind the sinking of the Cheonan: http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk02500&num=6445<br /><br />The original in Korean: http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?num=84095&cataId=nk06000sherriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01088928423195194044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-82974604129270023482010-05-28T17:28:54.112-04:002010-05-28T17:28:54.112-04:00Hmm NOTE THIS IS NOT TCG SAYING THIS I AM JUST A M...Hmm NOTE THIS IS NOT TCG SAYING THIS I AM JUST A MESSENGER:<br /><br /><b>Beijing suspects false flag attack on South Korean corvette<br /><br /><br /><br />One of the main purposes for increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula was to apply pressure on Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to reverse course on moving the U.S. Marine Corps base off Okinawa. Hatoyama has admitted that the tensions over the sinking of the Cheonan played a large part in his decision to allow the U.S. Marines to remain on Okinawa. Hatoyama's decision has resulted in a split in the ruling center-left coalition government, a development welcome in Washington, with Mizuho Fukushima, the Social Democratic Party leader threatening to bolt the coalition over the Okinawa reversal.<br /><br /></b>The Chinese guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042709338416365751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-29345958464762516842010-05-27T21:01:04.198-04:002010-05-27T21:01:04.198-04:00One sector that would be positively affected by re...One sector that would be positively affected by reunification is the civil engineering/construction sector. Right now, they have to look for projects in other countries because Korea doesn't need a lot of public works anymore. If NK opens up, then SK firms will jump all over infrastructure contracts.The Seoul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04433656828663327427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-17415177949333273412010-05-27T17:46:21.721-04:002010-05-27T17:46:21.721-04:00Laura,
I am going to designate myself as TK's...Laura,<br /><br />I am going to designate myself as TK's assistant to answer your questions. I hope he doesnt mind. <br /><br />The vast majority of Koreans don’t want a full-scale war with North Korea, as the consequences will outweigh the benefits. If you know history of Korea, specifically South Korea, it was one of the poorest countries in the world more than half a decade of ago. With hard work, dedication, and focus on education, South Korea has become one of the economic leaders of world, and engaging in a civil war with a militaristic country like North Korea will devastate South Korea’s economy; even a threat from North Korea negatively affects the KOSPI and Nikkei Index – equivalent of America's NY Stock Exchange – to a lesser extent. Engaging in a full-scale battle will not only set South Korea back 50 years, but the number of civilian casualties that may stem for SK simply will not be worth a full scale war effort. <br /><br />2. If the two Koreas did go to war, how do you think SK would be affected after? <br />As noted by many of the bloggers, SK has way more to lose than NK. Obviously, a civil war of this scale will yield tremendous amount of effects not only to Koreas, but to the entire region. But, for the purpose of the blog, we can focus on political and economic affects to SK stemming from the post Korean War II. <br />Political: I don’t believe any changes will happen politically. China and Japan will probably stay status quo because NK stability neither impacts them positively or negatively. To China, NK is a failed socialist state where they have become too dependent on China for its survival, and Chinese government will want to engage with countries that have vested interest, like SK and Japan, to continue to spur growth to its nation. <br />Economic: South Korea will experience negative growth for the next decade if the Koreas were to reunify post war. The mass exodus by NK refuges to major cities in SK will negatively result in massive spending by the government to accommodate millions or so refuges, especially to major cities. To make a analogous reunification event, after the fall of the Berlin wall Germany experienced negative growth for a decade because of the number of East Germans who migrated to West Germany to find jobs simply weren’t available. And Germany has a stronger and more robust economy than South Korea. By most economist estimates, it took Germany more than 10 years to arise from the negative growth due to the reunification with East Germany. Furthermore, Germany had assistance from European Union that certainly helped Germany recover at a faster rate than it had anticipated. Unlike Europe, though, East Asia doesn’t have a common union platform where neighboring countries will provide economic assistance. At least, I dont believe China and Japan will help as much as they TRULY can. Hopefully I am wrong, but dissension among China, Japan and Korea are still very deeply rooted IMO.Miguk chonhnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695554200912433082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-85976940953743661112010-05-27T08:44:01.907-04:002010-05-27T08:44:01.907-04:00Thanks for this helpful summary.Thanks for this helpful summary.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03708273691893291730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-41020599504163312142010-05-27T04:09:09.049-04:002010-05-27T04:09:09.049-04:00@Seoul searcher
In contrast, Korea is a divided n...@Seoul searcher<br /><br /><b>In contrast, Korea is a divided nation, and South Koreans taking over the North isn't quite the same situation. There's also the prospect of mass surrender by NK troops, which is definitely a possibility.</b><br /><br />And<br /><b>Of course, due to the catastrophic effects that even a peaceful reunification would have on the Korean economy, nobody really wants to even think of a military action to unify Korea.</b><br /><br />If there were a reunification it would be done like Hong Kong and Macau. They wouldn't join up and would keep the states separate.<br /><br />This would make Korean corporations very happy.<br /><br />At risk of sounding like a marxist.<br /><br />A lot of people ask so what has NK got we want? They have no oil, gas, coal diamonds etc. Think about it, if N Korea were somehow subdued. You suddenly have 23 million labourers who will work for appaulling wages much lower than their S Korean brothers and you don't have to care about their rights either. This is why US corporations love China, just look at the foxconn thing in China the Ipod factory where people kill themselves regularly.<br /><br /><br />N koreans will be like S koreans post 1953 just happy to have survived and will work for absolutely nothing meaning bigger profits for likes of LG, Samsung and Hyundai. The boss of Hyundai and the Kaesong factory city aren't just for show you know.The Chinese guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042709338416365751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-45704384492172095732010-05-27T02:34:49.912-04:002010-05-27T02:34:49.912-04:00Korean,
I was wondering if you had any insight as...Korean,<br /><br />I was wondering if you had any insight as to what the people of South Korea want to be done? From what I can gather (which honestly isn't much), this is a very very big deal to them and they want to see NK pay for its actions. But it also seems to me that they don't wish to go to war. If sanctions won't really do anything to deter Kim Jong-Il himself, what else can be done? I wish that South Korea could wipe out NK's communist regime and basically reunite the Koreas once again. I've heard so much about the families that were ripped apart and I feel for all of the poor citizens who I feel are essentially trapped in North Korea. It is for this reason that I find myself almost hoping there might be a war. But at the same time, I am generally very anti-war and I'm afraid of the repercussions for South Korea. After all, who am I to say another country should go to war, anyway? That's why I was also wondering what you think would happen to SK if war did happen. Would Seoul really be destroyed? Do you think many soldiers would die? Would the Korean economy take a great hit? And do you think that Korea would be better off or worse off afterwards? I'm really concerned about this whole situation but I don't know what would be best for the people of Korea. <br /><br />So my two questions were (once again)<br />1. What do the people of Korea want to happen?<br />and<br />2. If the Koreas did go to war, how do you think SK would be affected after?<br /><br />Sorry if these questions are completely stupid, btw. And thanks for your post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-70168328838778295492010-05-26T22:33:46.592-04:002010-05-26T22:33:46.592-04:00To all the naysayers, I'm going to still stand...To all the naysayers, I'm going to still stand by what I said. South Korea, with American assistance, and with nobody assisting the North Koreans would easily crush North Korea.<br /><br />That doesn't mean that it will be a pretty short term war with few casualties. You'd probably see the end of Seoul as we know it, as NK artillery would basically turn it into a giant inferno. <br /><br />But when all is said and done, the South would come out on top, and it would be the end of the northern regime.<br /><br />@Chinese guy...<br /><br />Afghanistan and Iraq are totally different from NK.<br /><br />They are a foreign power coming in, basically colonizing the country and with no clear objective. Osama bin Laden is a small carrot being dangled in front of Americans' noses, as there isn't any real effort to find him, or even worse, they've already found him, or they know he's already dead, but they let the American public think he's alive so that they can continue the war with Osama's capture used as an objective that they tell to the people.<br /><br />In contrast, Korea is a divided nation, and South Koreans taking over the North isn't quite the same situation. There's also the prospect of mass surrender by NK troops, which is definitely a possibility. <br /><br />Of course, due to the catastrophic effects that even a peaceful reunification would have on the Korean economy, nobody really wants to even think of a military action to unify Korea.<br /><br />I just don't think NK could stand up and fight for very long, especially without aid from another country.The Seoul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04433656828663327427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-5456885483222203242010-05-26T09:49:28.299-04:002010-05-26T09:49:28.299-04:00Joshua,
What do you think of talk that S. Korea h...Joshua,<br /><br /><b>What do you think of talk that S. Korea has falsely accused N. Korea of the attack?</b><br /><br />The Korean thinks it is groundless.<br /><br /><b>And also, I've heard the contrary to what you said about "annihilation within minutes." Supposedly, if the two countries were to clash, it would result in a long, drawn-out, casualty-heavy battle.</b><br /><br />Actually, when the Korean said <i>"Kim Jong-Il knows that the beginning of a full-scale war is equivalent to his annihilation within minutes[,]"</i> the Korean's point was that KJI's personal annihilation will be within minutes. You are correct that the second Korean War could possibly be a drawn-out affair, depending on how much NK military will resist.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-64126003426416646282010-05-26T09:29:26.536-04:002010-05-26T09:29:26.536-04:00@ Chinese guy
Yes I read your post. I took issue...@ Chinese guy<br /><br />Yes I read your post. I took issue with the examples you provided because I felt like comparing them to the situation in Korea was like comparing apples and oranges for the reasons I wrote. <br /><br /><b>There are shades of grey, so while China is probably closer to the black than the white, this does not mean the USA is pure white either.</b><br /><br />For the record, I think China's position has been just to urge calm. I don't think that it has exactly jumped to NK's defense. <br />I'm not really interested in painting the Chinese government or any other as black, white or grey. <br /><br /><br /><b>Saying things like this is like Bush saying ‘you are either with us or against us’</b><br /><br />I'm not trying to draw a line in the sand, but if things like 'yellow cake', 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and such were trotted out every time the government tried to make an assertion then I think that it would create a lot of undue prejudice. <br /><br />I will however acknowledge that 2010 really does seem to be a banner year for anti-government and anti-corporate establishment sentiment all over the world.questionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12384721299378851408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-18127309807818234212010-05-26T08:15:49.960-04:002010-05-26T08:15:49.960-04:00So the expert said that they find pieces of a Nort...So the expert said that they find pieces of a North Korean torpedo. But how did they find out that it was launched by a Nkorea sub?<br /><br />I read that it's a Torpedo Nkorea exports, so I guess it's not something hard to get, is it?<br /><br />What about the inscription what does it prove?telloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04189588012484710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-42509979215722712102010-05-26T07:15:16.515-04:002010-05-26T07:15:16.515-04:00Did you actually read my post or come to conclusio...Did you actually read my post or come to conclusions before finishing it?<br /><br />I said<br /><br /><i>"I'm not saying this is exclusive to Western powers, <b>just people should take a pinch of salt</b> in all this and not swallow hook line and sinker as well as copy of angling times what your government tells you."</i><br /><br />And FYI I never said China or North Korea were pristine either, but it is not mutually exclusive as you put it i.e. black and white. There are shades of grey, so while China is probably closer to the black than the white, this does not mean the USA is pure white either.<br /><br />Saying things like this is like Bush saying ‘you are either with us or against us’The Chinese guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042709338416365751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-63235750190737711912010-05-26T06:20:36.524-04:002010-05-26T06:20:36.524-04:00@ Chinese guy
So your implying that the investiga...@ Chinese guy<br /><br />So your implying that the investigation is crooked? Wheres your proof smart guy? <br /><br />By the way, the United States, <b>Australia</b>, Britain and <b>Sweden</b> were part of the investigation. I'm having trouble trying to imagine the Swedes as war mongers. What do any of them have to gain from the blame placed on NK? The DOW jones and the Korean won dropped heavily due to the instability in Korea. Considering that the US is already heavily involved in two wars right now, why would it want a third? <br /><br />I also noticed you trotting out the old saw about blood for oil. So just how much oil does NK have and why aren't they using these phantom oil fields to get rich like Iran? <br /><br />If 'the USA and Europe already have negative character marks against them' then please enlighten me on the pristine character marks of China and North Korea. As I wrote earlier, NK will have plenty of time to question the evidence at the UN.<br /><br />As for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan being cakewalks, the actual wars were cakewalks. Its the peace following the wars that have been an ongoing nightmare. By the way nobody who knows anything about the NK military thinks it would be a cakewalk.questionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12384721299378851408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-51962595723820222052010-05-26T05:27:05.613-04:002010-05-26T05:27:05.613-04:00South Korea could easily crush the North if war we...South Korea could easily crush the North if war were to break out, especially with U.S. help. Bombers can turn Pyeongyang into rubble in minutes.<br /><br /><br />Riight, and Iraq and Afghanistan were supposed to be cake walks too right?<br /><br /><br />You do realise Seoul's phenominal population density is a huge advantage for NK's 20kt A bombs granted A bombs are not really powerful compared to thermonuclear bombs but an A bomb landing at Yi Sun-sin statue's feet would kind of ruin my day a great deal.The Chinese guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042709338416365751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-84925031833818203222010-05-26T05:17:10.624-04:002010-05-26T05:17:10.624-04:00Riight so you are saying investigations by the USA...Riight so you are saying investigations by the USA, UK and Europe are going to be fair and impartial?<br /><br />What is your basis for this?<br /><br />These are <b>not</b> conspiracy theories they are proven to be true:<br /><br />Remember in 2003 the UK and USA <b>FABRICATED</b> evidence to attack and country (Iraq) to steal its oil. Note South Korea and Tony Blair are complicit in this as Tony Blair signed an agreement with a SK company to murder 1000s for oil.<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259030/Tony-Blairs-secret-dealings-South-Korean-oil-firm-UI-Energy-Corp.html<br /><br />Also the USA and the UK fabricated yellow cake uranium papers<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger_uranium_forgeries<br /><br /><br />Or the way Afghanistan's government said no to an gas pipeline in 1999, and yet conveniently the first thing that happened when the puppet government of Afghanistan was installed was to agree to a gas pipe line through Afganistan.<br /><br /><br />Therefore the USA and Europe already have negative character marks against them. So why should you trust their 'fair and impartial' investigation?<br /><br /><br />If anything their record of fabricating evidence makes their investigations incredibly unreliable and therefore not to be trusted at all. <br /><br />I'm not saying this is exclusive to Western powers, just people should take a pinch of salt in all this and not swallow hook line and sinker as well as copy of angling times what your government tells you.The Chinese guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042709338416365751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-85128191191438090982010-05-26T04:25:11.910-04:002010-05-26T04:25:11.910-04:00LOL! Hey Joshua, why not ask mafia Dons to help du...LOL! Hey Joshua, why not ask mafia Dons to help during a criminal investigations into mafia crimes? I'm sure they are very willing. If it turns out that they tampered with the evidence or mislead the investigation then they could just be kicked out right? Wheres the harm in it?<br /><br /><b>It's not like they'd be doing it independently; no one in their right mind would allow that. </b> <br /><br />If they are not fit to do an investigation independently there is a reason for it and if you can't handle an investigation by your self why make you think you deserve to be on a team of investigators?<br /><br />NK is more then welcome to look at the evidence provided and disprove it. But isn't it funny how instead of doing that they immediately issued threats?questionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12384721299378851408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-35751591663543735802010-05-26T02:34:32.513-04:002010-05-26T02:34:32.513-04:00Miguk...
With regards to letting NK investigate, ...Miguk...<br /><br />With regards to letting NK investigate, I understand why you feel that way, and it makes sense. The question wasn't something I personally posed or even thought about myself, but rather something I came across while reading about this whole situation.<br /><br />That being said, the issue I wanted to raise, after reading some others' thoughts and questions about this situation, was not whether or not NK was allowed to do it's own investigation.<br /><br />It was this: why not let NK take part of the investigation procedure, as in, along with everyone else? Especially if they were willing? Where's the harm in it? If they were to be totally off-base, there'd be no problem in kicking them off of the investigation. It's not like they'd be doing it independently; no one in their right mind would allow that.<br /><br />Oh, and I personally wasn't implying that the battle would turn out that way. I was just relaying information I had learned from a more credible source than myself, and how it challenges the popularly accepted notion of a swift outcome.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03174185443289516850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-45224829102026407632010-05-26T02:19:01.989-04:002010-05-26T02:19:01.989-04:00Seoul Searcher...
Believe it or not, I actually t...Seoul Searcher...<br /><br />Believe it or not, I actually thought the same way you did.<br /><br />After speaking to someone who is quite knowledgeable of the situation not only with regards military matters in general, but also with the conflict here in Korea, I was assured that this wasn't the case.<br /><br />Unless you're either an expert on these matters, work for the military (or something to the same effect), have insider info or proof, etc. to back up your claim, I'm not compelled to continue believing this notion.<br /><br />(No offense, I was just given a rational, thorough explanation why this "wiping out" wouldn't necessarily take place as people tend to believe.)Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03174185443289516850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-89708380439494996782010-05-26T02:17:20.492-04:002010-05-26T02:17:20.492-04:00Joshua,
I disagree with your assessment, especial...Joshua,<br /><br />I disagree with your assessment, especially where you insinuate the battle between North and South Korea will be a long and drawn out affair. I believe NK against SK will not win in any conventional warfare, but it will be a very quick defeat to SK. And I would go further to state that NK soldiers may even emulate Iraqi soldiers during the USA's war against Iraq where they will put up a fight during the early phases of the battle, but concede as soon as possible. <br /><br />As far as rejecting a team of NK researchers to perform the root cause of to the sinking ship. Are you serious? This dysfunctional govt country has no credibility to perform such critical assessment. Because of the gravity of the blast -- it killed 46 soldiers -- the investigation requires honesty, fair, and expert assessments from various constituents where they will be as objective and balanced as possible. And if you are familiar with NK, fair, objective, honesty, balanced are words not synonymous with the NK's regime. If, however, NK is allowed to perform their own investigations will not only be irrationally nonobjective, it will also provide a platform to which NK can counterclaim SK and USA's investigations to use as another propaganda against SK, further destabilizing the region.<br /><br />Your assertion that NK should be allowed to conduct their investigation to sinking of the ship is just plain ludicrous.Miguk chonhnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695554200912433082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-52502790483282421472010-05-26T02:11:53.440-04:002010-05-26T02:11:53.440-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Miguk chonhnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695554200912433082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-31883320170851033452010-05-26T01:10:04.533-04:002010-05-26T01:10:04.533-04:00Joshua.. no.
Any war between the two Koreas would...Joshua.. no.<br /><br />Any war between the two Koreas would not be long, nor would it be drawn out (provided there isn't any foreign power coming to North Korea's aid.)<br /><br />North Korea may have millions of soldiers, but their technology is antiquated. <br /><br />South Korea could easily crush the North if war were to break out, especially with U.S. help. Bombers can turn Pyeongyang into rubble in minutes.The Seoul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04433656828663327427noreply@blogger.com