Tension on the Korean Peninsula

[ComradeJunichi]

Anyone been paying attention on DPRK and ROK? Things are really not looking well. I went to CNN.com and the first thing I saw was a picture of two North Korean soldiers. The DPRK is pretty much everywhere. Reading the news makes my stomach turn upside down. It's terrifying.

-DPRK kicked out all the weapons inspectors, and IAEA, etc.
-DPRK reopened nuclear facilities, factories, etc.
-DPRK moved 2/3's of it's 1.1 million member army near the 38th parallel, DMZ.
-DPRK soldiers had light machine guns in the 2000 meter DMZ, which is against the armistice signed in 1953.
-DPRK not accepting any requests for them to move their troops, let IAEA back in, take out the machine guns, stop the nuclear program.

Also, I just thought to myself...They are clearing mines on the 38th parallel, people may think this is a good thing and a step toward reunification. When I thought of this, I saw it as a step toward an easier war. No mines on the border, what is there to stop a mass wave of troops. You might think I'm paranoid, but this is not good.

I don't know about you guys, because you don't live or know anyone in Korea. But this is very horrifying to me. When I read this, my stomach literally went upside down. My life is on that peninsula, my whole family. All my friends, all my memories...everything.

I wish I could take a flight to Pyongyang, North Korea. I would like to have a talk with Kim Jung Il, and his party. I'd like to see if he knows anything about socialism. It would be great if I could go and talk to him, considering I'm probably the only South Korean communist.

I just hope that nothing happens. I hope what I think will happen, won't happen. Save us.

[pastradamus]

damn....
Hopefully north korea wont push the coin any further.

[ComradeJunichi]

Hopefully, I really hope not. It's saturday morning in Korea right now, so I'm about to talk to all my friends. I'll see what they have to say.

How come noone is replying to this thread?

[bluerev002]

i cannot say that i can feel what you feel, because it is not my country, ppl, and home thats being attacked. but atleast your safe, becaus i doubt that you could go up to jung and make him listen to what you have to say.
but, atleast your safe now, and you can learn all you can about socialism. so bide your time, learn, and when your ready, you can go try to get into the action.

again, i dont know your pain, so these words might seem useless.

[ComradeJunichi]

Well at least you replied, which shows you care. I am in not too safe in America either, with Homeland Security and the Patriot Act.

I started my studies of socialism in Korea. CYPSK, Communist Youth Party of South Korea, is a small little group I formed while I was in Korea. I feel more free to say I was a socialist in Korea, then I do here. I've been pushed around, beat up, made fun of, etc. here. I really hate it here.

I don't really care that I'm safe, my whole family is there. All my friends, all the places, the memories. Everything.

[Pete]

Enyon Comrade
My friend was just in South Korea around the 10th or so. For a few weeks. She was helping set up her brother who just got out of the army. There is conscription right? She doesn't seemed scared, but what you have said makes me worry for her family that she has over their. Another one of my friends only just moved to Canada 2 years ago and he has his entire family except his mom and dad in South Korea. They seem not to know of this, or ignore it if they do know of it. But I am scared for them after reading your posts. Thank you for the news of the Penninsula. Jali Ja!

(I only know 3 Korean words but am starting to pick up more as I hang out with many people with ancestry in South Korea)

[Rob]

Well even if the DPRK backs down, Bushboy seems pretty set on sending our boys to die over there.

[Pavan Sohal]

The North Koreans are probably just trying to get the oil transfers going again. The Nuclear Card is really the only thing they're willing to play. Improving relations with South Korea hasn't helped thaw relations with U.S., (much of it being America's fault).

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

I read it, but had nothing to say.

[ComradeJunichi]

Then why bother posting?

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Because you asked for replies and wanted to let you know that your article has been read.

[MJM]

I love Korea, been there for a holiday briefly. There 's already a state of war alert from what I saw. Army guys everywhere videoing people and cars and shit, quite scary.
I doubt the US will invade, I think if the north hadn't announced they had weapons they would have been on the hit list. The US and their axis of evil force the north to take evasive action, so they did.
The US won't attack a country with nukes, simply because they have nukes and may use them. Also the chinese won't stand by and watch the US attack.
The chinese people feel very comradely towards the north from what I've heard and it could well cause a massive shift to the left in asian politics.

[ComradeJunichi]

Where'd you go in Korea? When did you go? You should have told me, we could have met...well if it was in the last 2 months we couldn't have. Everyone tell me when they are going to Korea. We can meet.

Yes, China will definitely not side with the US. Russia would side with North rather than the US. I don't about Japan, I'm thinking the US?

[El Brujo]

We could only hope for the best but it is very doubtful that the US will attack NK because of what MJM mentioned as well as because of the enormous opposition to the US that is growing due to dubya's recent war-fetish. The US is already being seen as evil by the rest of the world for wanting to invade Iraq (the only countries supporting them on that are Britain, Turkey and Israel).

BTW: There is a big Korean community here. Good ppl.

[Exploited Class]

Quote: from MJM on 4:20 am on Dec. 28, 2002
I love Korea, been there for a holiday briefly. There 's already a state of war alert from what I saw. Army guys everywhere videoing people and cars and shit, quite scary.
I doubt the US will invade, I think if the north hadn't announced they had weapons they would have been on the hit list. The US and their axis of evil force the north to take evasive action, so they did.
The US won't attack a country with nukes, simply because they have nukes and may use them. Also the chinese won't stand by and watch the US attack.
The chinese people feel very comradely towards the north from what I've heard and it could well cause a massive shift to the left in asian politics.


100% agreement. For N. Korea I am afraid that all they have to stop America is having nuclear weapons. They were on the "Axis of Evil" hit list, Bush made it. They see how Iraq is fairing with being on that lists. The whole international community is saying stop America, UN inspectors are not seeing any evidence of wrong doing, yet America keeps going forward to war. I am sure N. Korea sees this as a potential threat to themselves.

They went the diplomatic route, started talks with S. Korea, had visiting days, told the truth to Japan that they did in fact kidnap people. It didn't work for them, so what else is left but defense. Like many of us have said, if Iraq had nukes America wouldn't be attacking. They are going to throw that whole area into chaos but who wants to be bombed from far away by the U.S.?

North Korea might not be the most pleasant place on earth to live, but there are far worse and there is no justification for the US to attack them.

This is their only recourse left for defense agaisnt an America strike.

[Panamarisen]

Comrade Junichi, if things get worse, is there any possibility for your family and friends to meet you in the U$ or somewhere else?
Anyway, because of reasons as those of MJM and ec, I don´t think either that the U$ will attack N Korea, or that N Korea attacks South.

HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE!

[ComradeJunichi]

If a war does occur, I don't know how'd they get to the airport and etc. I'm sure there would be thousands trying to leave. But there will be many who prefer to stay and 'fight', I think Koreans are pretty patriotic if not nationalistic.

I really do hope you guys are right, and nothing will happen. I just can't imagine all the emotions racing through my head if something happened. Either I'm paranoid or ...paranoid.

[Larissa]

Comrade Junichi,

I feel truly sorry about it and somehow understand how you feel. Hopefully, war will not occur, yet I justify your paranoia. Nobody needs a nuclear disaster, even when nuclear weapons seem to be the only alternative to stop America.

Keep us posted, your concerns are the community's concerns. That's what we are all here for: to support each other.

[ComradeJunichi]

Thank you very much, Larissa and everyone. I guess I will make this the thread for all the posts on Korea.

Well right now, Seoul (capital of South Korea) has asked Russia and China to be more 'strong' about DPRK reopening it's nuclear facilities. South Korea, Japan, and the US are going to have a meeting soon I hear.

Okay, now that I'm less paranoid I'm thinking less one sided. Since the US has rejected all requests from DPRK for dialogue, maybe the DPRK took out all IAEA cameras and etc. to create dialogue. Reopen the facilities for more electricity since the US stopped all shipment.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Fuck Seoul, let the country have it's nukes. If there will be political changes than it has to be done by the people it self. The only chance of succes of the longer term and not by some other nation who wants to benefit of the internal problems.

[new democracy]

I feel sorry Joon, but i don't think there is going to be a war. the DPRK is collapsing. if the DPRK will attack the ROK, the USA will obviously interfere in favor of the south. does a small collapsing nation can stand against the USA? i doubt it. does Kim Jung Il really wish to lose his absolute power? i think that he is just trying to distract his people from their problems.

[Pavan Sohal]

He may hold a small country, but it is very stable in its backwardness. The people are already xenophobic, coupled with complete government control of the military, farming, etc, and an absolute void of opposition groups. The country could remain the same way for longer than America remains the greatest superpower. The only way anything is going to change, is from the outside.

[Lefty]

i will take this opportunity to say:

Bush save you all! :-P