North Korea in need of a "Time Out"

[Gauss]

Kim Jong-il (left) with Father, Kim Il-Song. In need of "tough love"?

With the US an its allies searching for an immediate reason/provocation to go to war with Iraq, north Korea has launched a missle into the Sea of Japan towards the Japanese mainland....the US reaction:

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said it was North Korea's way of attracting attention and saying "please pay me". He then went on to say "North Korea will not be rewarded for bad behaviour"

All arguments about a double standard aside....does anybody else think that the US's "official" reaction kind of seems like the parenting style of that yupie woman I always see in the coffee isle of the grocery store...You know the one with the bratty 3 year old in tow throwing a hissy fit..."Just ignore him, it's his way of getting attention".

Well, North Korea has to learn that "acting out" will get it nowhere. I propose it should be sent to bed without supper. If that doesn't work, no TV for one week.

[AirHawk]

quote]Well, North Korea has to learn that "acting out" will get it nowhere. I propose it should be sent to bed without supper. If that doesn't work, no TV for one week.


[/quote]

And if THAT doesn't work, perhaps it's time to throw the Dr. Spock book in the trash masher and get out the Hickory Switches.......

-Scott
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"Used to do a little, but a little wouldn't do it so a little got more and more - I just keep tryin' to get a little better, yeah a little better than before......"

[Joel Cool]

I'm planing on a business trip to South Korea at the end of the month, so I've been looking at the situation in the Koreas recently.

It's interesting that the people on both sides of the border really want, and expect to be reunited. The issue seems to be that North Korea has had a really seriously flawed series of leaders.

The average wage of a South Korean is $10k per year while their relatives to the North make an average of $1k per year (these may be out of date figures).

Reunification talks have historically been stopped by North Korea based on "issues" between the leaders in the North and the USA's presence in the region.

Kind of a strange situation. I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like in Seoul.
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'01 929RR
Ride well.

[Joel Cool]

Well I got back from Seoul on Monday. Let me tell you, S. Korea is a WONDERFUL place. The people there are very friendly. The honesty of the society there was refreshing.

While we were visiting the DMZ, the S. Korean Navy was firing over some N. Korean crab fishermen who had crossed the line established after Korean conflict, but never acknowledged by the North. We heard the booms from the big guns, but it wasn't until the next day when we read about the conflict that we realized what we were hearing.

The food there is really great. It was so much fun eating at the open market, and shopping for cool stuff.

The Koreans are fiercely proud of their country, as they should be. I just hope the issues that separate the two Koreas can be settled peacefully. If the North attacks Seoul, it will be an attrocity unlike anything this modern world has seen.
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'01 929RR
Ride well.

[Joel Cool]

Here's some pics from my trip:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/joelcool/korea/seoul.htm
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'01 929RR
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[RC31]

Great pics (and commentary), Joel! It's fascinating (and frightening) how little we Americans understand about the rest of the world. Thanks for helping educate us.

[Joel Cool]

Right you are. BTW, I added a few more pics and a bit more commentary.
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'01 929RR
Ride well.