The relationship between North Korea and (pretty much) the rest of the world has never been good. Conflicts with South Korea and the USA were and are nothing special - there are many known cases of hostile acts like the Korean War (1905 - 1953) and the isolation of North Korea in general: Not only are the human rights not accepted but according to Amnesty International they're also actively violated, especially under the administration of the current dictator Kim Jong-Il. Tortures or even executions of fugitives, who tried to escape either to China or South Korea aren't secrets anymore.
Now, North Korea is starting again to become the center of a conflict - potentially a massive one: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/31/north-korea-missile-tests-washington
North Korea has test-fired six missiles since detonating a nuclear device on Monday, with the latest being a short-range missile launch on Friday.
According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, spy satellites have captured images that show the country is busy preparing more tests.
The images appear to show an intercontinental ballistic missile being moved by train from the capital to a launch pad at Musudan-ri in the north-east of the country. The missile is thought to be a Taepodong-2, which is in theory capable of hitting US soil. The missile could be launched within two weeks.
In a statement, North Korea denounced its critics as "hypocrites" and warned of "adopting self-defensive countermeasures" if action were taken against it at the UN.
As we all know North Korea is in posession of nuclear weapons as well. It's safe to assume that such weapons aren't used for self-defensive purposes. Another conflict - this time it may even be a major one - with North Korea is not out of the question looking at the circumstances.
What do you think we can expect?
Will there be an open war or will the conflict ease over time again? Will there be a conflict at all? How far do you think Kim Jong-Il will go when it comes down to a war? Do we have to fear the use of nuclear weapons? Will there be a way to prevent a war and to stop Kim Jong-Il?
While North Korea has a strong military force it's economy is too weak to withstand the pressure of a war that might rage for years. On the other hand it's unrealistic to assume that you can outright "win" a war against North Korea without ridicoulus losses that nobody wants to take. For that reason I think it will more come down to a cold war-style arms race than to an open conflict although I'm sure that Kim Jong-Il is ruthless enough to potentially use nuclear weapons. While he's capable of doing something like that I think he's also aware that he can't afford to do something like that. But who knows....
Now, North Korea is starting again to become the center of a conflict - potentially a massive one: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/31/north-korea-missile-tests-washington
North Korea has test-fired six missiles since detonating a nuclear device on Monday, with the latest being a short-range missile launch on Friday.
According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, spy satellites have captured images that show the country is busy preparing more tests.
The images appear to show an intercontinental ballistic missile being moved by train from the capital to a launch pad at Musudan-ri in the north-east of the country. The missile is thought to be a Taepodong-2, which is in theory capable of hitting US soil. The missile could be launched within two weeks.
In a statement, North Korea denounced its critics as "hypocrites" and warned of "adopting self-defensive countermeasures" if action were taken against it at the UN.
As we all know North Korea is in posession of nuclear weapons as well. It's safe to assume that such weapons aren't used for self-defensive purposes. Another conflict - this time it may even be a major one - with North Korea is not out of the question looking at the circumstances.
What do you think we can expect?
Will there be an open war or will the conflict ease over time again? Will there be a conflict at all? How far do you think Kim Jong-Il will go when it comes down to a war? Do we have to fear the use of nuclear weapons? Will there be a way to prevent a war and to stop Kim Jong-Il?
While North Korea has a strong military force it's economy is too weak to withstand the pressure of a war that might rage for years. On the other hand it's unrealistic to assume that you can outright "win" a war against North Korea without ridicoulus losses that nobody wants to take. For that reason I think it will more come down to a cold war-style arms race than to an open conflict although I'm sure that Kim Jong-Il is ruthless enough to potentially use nuclear weapons. While he's capable of doing something like that I think he's also aware that he can't afford to do something like that. But who knows....