Nork Nukes Nearing Nuisance?

[BanzaiCat]

Am I the only one thinking this is some kind of ruse, and Pappa Fat Boy Un has some kind of backstab planned?

[Sir Slash]

Yes, probably a ruse to steal Col. Sanders Secret recipe. This does seem too good to be true. But it is better than the Nuke Saber Rattling. So.... fingers crossed. 

[BanzaiCat]

That's my point, though. Literally decades of saber-rattling and threats and shooting missiles through other countries' airspaces and daring anyone to do anything about it, and now suddenly he just wants to make nice?

I'm skeptical.

Not that I don't think it's good - I'm just very hesitant to take this at face value, unlike the networks that are screaming like Neville Chamberlain's supporters were during the whole 'peace in our time' bit.

[mirth]

He's been in charge for a relatively short time. I'm sure it plays to his ego to be considered the peacemaker now. And if he can bring his country into the 21st century and the international community, it will be a huge win for him (as despicable as he may be).

[JasonPratt]

https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/north-koreas-nuclear-test-site-has-collapsed-chinese-scientists/

I'm going to suspect this has some bearing on him wanting to play nice now.  ::)

Good job Trump, though, I guess? He deserves at least some credit, wincing as that is for me to say so.

[BanzaiCat]

Yes, probably a ruse to steal Col. Sanders Secret recipe. This does seem too good to be true. But it is better than the Nuke Saber Rattling. So.... fingers crossed. 

[Centurion40]

https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/north-koreas-nuclear-test-site-has-collapsed-chinese-scientists/

I'm going to suspect this has some bearing on him wanting to play nice now.  ::)

Good job Trump, though, I guess? He deserves at least some credit, wincing as that is for me to say so.

Perhaps your President and the Chinese have convinced Fatboy that there is a huuuge upside to playing ball?  Lift sanctions, feed the people, look good and get to go to Disneyworld.

If yes, then he does indeed deserve credit for a job well done.

[Barthheart]

My guess in the new Chinese leadership put their foot down, on Lil Kim's neck, when he was up for a "State Visit" last month.

Having his testing facility under tonnes of fallen rock probably helped too.... O0

[Sir Slash]

I'm thinking the Pug should be in charge of negotiations. Who could say 'No' to him?

[JasonPratt]

April 27th, South and North Korea sign the papers effectively ending the Korean War.

I don't even know whether this is the right place to put it...  :o :clap:

[JasonPratt]

Meanwhile, an interesting theory is that this is a coup against the North Korean military elites, most of whom live in China anyway. Kim may have explained that he and his forebears were 'forced' to play brinkmanship games to convince the other thugs that they had the stones to stay at the top, but that if he didn't have to worry about them then he'd be prepared to play ball more nicely on the world stage. (And consolidate his power position more safely for himself of course.)

China secures the borders against the generals escaping back to NK, and takes them out quietly in country; special ops volunteered from various nations zap the palaces; North Korea agrees to end its financially ruinous military policies and appoint new military leaders prepared to play ball with Kim (and thence with the world more generally). Maybe NK gains special protectorate status as a neutral country from the UN Security Council (two of which are sitting right on the border, as fellow communist or former-communist supporters). Everyone wins except the generals and maybe their families to some extent. Conditions in NK improve significantly for its population.

Worth noting that the Saudis went to China for military training recently (maybe have a base there now); and a number of Chinese troops marched with Saudi troops in a Pakistani military day parade not long ago: the first time Chinese troops have ever marched in anyone else's military parade. Some suspiciously EastAsian-looking troops were training with the Jordanian army recently, wearing Jordanian flags.

[Gusington]

Say what??

[Centurion40]

Meanwhile, an interesting theory is that this is a coup against the North Korean military elites, most of whom live in China anyway. Kim may have explained that he and his forebears were 'forced' to play brinkmanship games to convince the other thugs that they had the stones to stay at the top, but that if he didn't have to worry about them then he'd be prepared to play ball more nicely on the world stage. (And consolidate his power position more safely for himself of course.)

China secures the borders against the generals escaping back to NK, and takes them out quietly in country; special ops volunteered from various nations zap the palaces; North Korea agrees to end its financially ruinous military policies and appoint new military leaders prepared to play ball with Kim (and thence with the world more generally). Maybe NK gains special protectorate status as a neutral country from the UN Security Council (two of which are sitting right on the border, as fellow communist or former-communist supporters). Everyone wins except the generals and maybe their families to some extent. Conditions in NK improve significantly for its population.

Worth noting that the Saudis went to China for military training recently (maybe have a base there now); and a number of Chinese troops marched with Saudi troops in a Pakistani military day parade not long ago: the first time Chinese troops have ever marched in anyone else's military parade. Some suspiciously EastAsian-looking troops were training with the Jordanian army recently, wearing Jordanian flags.

Links?

[OJsDad]

There's a lot of work to be done before Nobel Peace prized start being handed out.  Until an peace treaty is finalized and Kim allows outside inspectors of his nuclear program, it's all hype.

[JasonPratt]

I had links earlier but they have been lost in the cascading morass of FB.