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That he's been able to do this with South Korea alone without the US at the table tells you how strong of a hand he has and how weak our hand is. I think this

That he's been able to do this with South Korea alone without the US at the table tells you how strong of a hand he has and how weak our hand is. I think this is a ploy to do two things: 1. Economic growth for North Korea, which has been happened to some extend already. 2. Get the US out of the Korean Peninsula. A strong economy will allow NK to develop or buy all sorts of updated conventional arms. NK is seriously weak here. Their air force is horribly out of date. I doubt they can actually defeat South Korea in a conventional war even if the US is not helping SK. Once the US presence is no longer there, it becomes a lot harder for the US to re-enter in times of conflict because now NK can threaten us with nuclear weapons. Most American will not trade Seattle or SF for South Korea. Unification of Korea is pretty much a non-negotiatable goal for the North Korean regime. It's been their goal since the start and the reason why the leading families in NK support the Kim family.

flycaliguy 9y ago
I would be careful to underestimate the North's ability to fight a war. You don't need cutting edge technology with the sort of topography they've got. Look at a topographic map of North Korea. It's mountain ranges and valleys. Dense veg, steep drops, spots for tunnels, rapid currents. You could put an army from the 50s in there and have a hell of a time getting them to quit.
- hangonhn 9y ago
  I don't doubt their ability to defend their own territory and your point about that is correct. However, I don't see South Korea being the aggressor. If there is a war, North Korea would be the aggressor and I doubt their current ability to successfully invade and conquer South Korea. They would have to acquire new conventional capabilities to do that and a viable economy is necessary for that development.
pm90 9y ago
This is what I worry about as well. To be sure: if this is a good faith approach to Unification, it should be up to the respective peoples to decide what their political fate ultimately is. I don't see the South Koreans willingly wishing to be ruled by the Kim regime. But if its a ploy to get the US out so that Kim can strong arm the South Koreans... that is bad news.

flycaliguy 9y ago

I would be careful to underestimate the North's ability to fight a war. You don't need cutting edge technology with the sort of topography they've got. Look at a topographic map of North Korea. It's mountain ranges and valleys. Dense veg, steep drops, spots for tunnels, rapid currents. You could put an army from the 50s in there and have a hell of a time getting them to quit.

hangonhn 9y ago
I don't doubt their ability to defend their own territory and your point about that is correct. However, I don't see South Korea being the aggressor. If there is a war, North Korea would be the aggressor and I doubt their current ability to successfully invade and conquer South Korea. They would have to acquire new conventional capabilities to do that and a viable economy is necessary for that development.

pm90 9y ago

This is what I worry about as well. To be sure: if this is a good faith approach to Unification, it should be up to the respective peoples to decide what their political fate ultimately is. I don't see the South Koreans willingly wishing to be ruled by the Kim regime. But if its a ploy to get the US out so that Kim can strong arm the South Koreans... that is bad news.