Not to mention, in one war game, one F-22 vs 6 F-16s, the F-22 killed the others before even being seen. Lest we forget about the JST(Joint Strike Fighter) although I don't think its deployed, its pretty much finished if I remember right. But no more touting the war whistle.

I'm not so convinced it would automatically lead to war. North Korea has excelled in blackmail and extortion in the past, as these are really its only methods of influence in the world today. I personally think it more likely it would play the victim card in the event it were attacked in order to get international sympathy and support.

Let's face it, if North Korea decided to continue its war against the South and included Japan in it, the North's military capability and leadership would disappear in the blink of an eye. North Korea gets by convincing the world it is insane, and no-one really wants to risk testing that theory.

He's been in office for such a short period of time, you can't possibly expect him to fix things over night or for all his plans to work right away.

SWEET! More irrelevance political debating on a thread that has nothing do to with politics! COOOOL MAN! :D :D :D :D

Nice to see you again, Tenchu. What rock have you been hiding under? From increasing fuel standard to closing Gitmo to allowing stem cell research to increasing fuel emission standards and allowing states to set their own standards to setting a schedule for bringing troops home from Iraq, Obama has done a LOT in his first two months.

His popularity has falling (in the single digits), which is not abnormal during a recession/depression. He is still well over 50% in the US.

But the current North Korean war doctrine says very different from your opinion.

There is a good reason why the current South Korean president didn't criticize North Korea even further.

North Korea has a big brother called China who don't like to be meddled with North Korea's issue.

Ok, so you're one of the many that believes North Korea is as good as its word. Fair enough. I don't believe they would because I don't think they're suicidal (despite the advantage they gain by making the world think they are). Problem is, no-one will really know for sure, not even the North Koreans themselves, until it happens. Doesn't look like anyone is in a hurry to try it out , so any argument here might be interesting, but ultimately futile :)


On the China subject. China may be one of the few countries around with good relations with the North Koreans, but I think we can safely assume its all about self interest and not any kind of shared ideology (consider the Sino-Soviet relationship or lack thereof during the Cold War).

China has defended the North Korean regime in the past and mocked any talk of attempts to topple it. In my opinion however, it fears that scenario not because it's an ally, but because it understands what happens to countries, particularly unstable ones, when political systems fail (the fighting in the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, Iraq and a lot of the old European colonies after WWII are good examples). The last thing China wants is a country collapsing on its border and having to deal with refugees and responsibility for stabilising it again (given China's own internal problems).

China may not be a democracy, but its future depends very much on regional stability and continuing economic development, which in turn relies heavily on the import of energy and other resources. It won't be in any hurry to defend North Korea after the excrement has hit the fan. No doubt it would be very vocal beforehand tho.

I'd hardly call their relationship brotherly...

Nope. Just try to ignore North Korea at best. I'm one of those people who thinks "don't not criticize North Korea and do not ever praise North Korea. Try to ignore NK without directly offending it".

The Sino-Soviet Split brought very negative impressions to China, the Chinese government and Maoism to North Korea.

Did you know that Kim Il Sung actively persecuted pro-Chinese North Koreans?

Why would China defend North Korea whose Juche government undermines Chinese contribution to North Korea?

Of course, China doesn't defend North Korea's regime when it is actually defending itself from a possible crisis by Kim Jong Il.

Forget about Western-style democracy in China. China's approach to a democracy-like public outreach will never be a typical democracy that we are familiar of.

Democracy doesn't work in South Korea btw.

The only reason why China is supporting North Korea is because China do NOT want to deal with North Koreans living illegally. And also the collapse of North Korea will bring bad influence to China and South Korea (SK is China's important trading partner).

I merely respond to Tenchu's analogy. Read Tenchu's reply. I wouldn't say the same profanity you used towards me about "learn to read".

I read Tenchu's analogy. It was as pointless as your addition to it. Which is why I responded in the way I did.

Seriously...

What is Western style democracy? Systems range from Germany to the US to Australia to New Zealand.

And what do you base your idea that democracy doesn't work in South Korea on?