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It's interesting how every other story on HN's frontpage right now seems to dwarf in relevance, compared to this. The full weight of a declaration of war simply
by goldfeld 14y ago
It's interesting how every other story on HN's frontpage right now seems to dwarf in relevance, compared to this. The full weight of a declaration of war simply stated like this stopped me in my tracks. And coming from a completely unpredictable and strongly armed regime, it's the stuff of legend, and a sorry situation that the world has to see it become real.
I hope South Korea has a plan to minimize civilian casualties, if it comes to that, and I wish the people didn't have to go through this; not the tension, much less actual damage. South Korea is a modern country full of technology, in those ways a peer to the US and other first world countries. Which makes it even easier to put yourself in the south koreans' shoes. Gives you some perspective.
- seanmcdirmid 14y agoNobody is taking this seriously in the press. The DPRK says crap like this all the time, its hard to tell if they are serious this time; it seems like they probably aren't. Now that could change as we get more information, but for now...its just the same-old-same-old. But us expats who live relatively near the DPRK (in the PRC or ROK) will always pay attention to stuff like this.
- goldfeld 14y agoWell, if it is as you say, in a way it worries me more. Maybe they have declared all-out war in these terms before, I wouldn't know. In any case, if it isn't this time, for how long more? If nobody takes them seriously, the defenses will be lowered when they finally strike. I have little doubt NK is a country which could put all to risk because of it's dictator's crazy whims. It's a high risk the world is taking by dismissing it.
- seanmcdirmid 14y agoEveryone takes them seriously, just no one pays attention to what they say anymore, which is basically not useful information. We can only go by what they actually do.