"Korean in misery as cash is culled" - TIMES ONLINE

[GreenLantern]

There were reports of public outrage and confusion after the announcement of the measure, which requires North Koreans to swap existing won notes for new ones at an exchange rate of one to 100 — effectively knocking two zeroes off their value. Because of a cap of 100,000 won per family (£475 at the official exchange rate), anyone with significant holdings of cash will have their savings wiped out.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6940482.ece


I can't say it is a huge shock, but as a westerner could you imagine?

[speede5]

Too bad they don't have oil or the U.S. might come and free them from communist oppresion.

[VladtheImpaler]

Honestly, nothing NK does would surprise me... If they suddenly announced that 20% of the population would be executed due to food shortages, I would not be shocked.

[M. Szyslak]

Originally Posted by speede5

Too bad they don't have oil or the U.S. might come and free them from communist oppresion.

I get your point, and its fair enough to be cynical about American foreign policy. But don't forget that the United States sustained over 100 000 casualties, including around 36 000 dead, freeing half of Korea from that very same communist government. And there wasn't a drop of oil in sight.

[flip]

Originally Posted by M. Szyslak

I get your point, and its fair enough to be cynical about American foreign policy. But don't forget that the United States sustained over 100 000 casualties, including around 36 000 dead, freeing half of Korea from that very same communist government. And there wasn't a drop of oil in sight.

They didn't so much free Korea as they did push back the Communist invaders. But yes they did try and keep Korea safe without oil. However Korea was as much about sending a message to the Chinese and Russians than it was about saving Korea.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by M. Szyslak

I get your point, and its fair enough to be cynical about American foreign policy. But don't forget that the United States sustained over 100 000 casualties, including around 36 000 dead, freeing half of Korea from that very same communist government. And there wasn't a drop of oil in sight.

That's right, I forgot about that. You know how it goes. "What have you done for me lately?"

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by speede5

That's right, I forgot about that. You know how it goes. "What have you done for me lately?"

You mean other than spend billions over the years keeping a couple of divisions in Korea just in case?

[flip]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

You mean other than spend billions over the years keeping a couple of divisions in Korea just in case?

The bottom line is that the US is not some benevolent international actor who fights for freedom for all the world's population.

They intervene when it is convenient and beneficial.

[Itse]

Also, there's the simple problem that Seoul (pop. 10+ million, 24 million in the area) is so close to the North Korean border that any actual war would start with the a massacre. Assuming the North Koreans still have enough working artillery, which they propably do.

Also, the Chinese don't want that war on their backyard, because they don't want the refugees.

In any case, psychologists and sociologists will have a hundred year christmas if they ever get their hands on the North Korean population. Such a fascinating state.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by flip

The bottom line is that the US is not some benevolent international actor who fights for freedom for all the world's population.

They intervene when it is convenient and beneficial.

Yes, veeeeery convenient keeping 50,000 + troops in Korea for 50+ years.

[M. Szyslak]

Originally Posted by flip

The bottom line is that the US is not some benevolent international actor who fights for freedom for all the world's population.

They intervene when it is convenient and beneficial.

No, the US is not always a benevolent international actor and every country ultimately acts in its own interests. But the United States has undeniably acted beneficially, in the interests of itself and others, on numerous occasions. Misguided and arrogant as they often are, the Americans have done much good in this world. We are very quick to point out the bad - and there is lots to point out. But we must also recognize the good - such as leading the United Nations in Korea; trying to help people in places like Kosovo and Somalia where they have very little pecuniary or strategic interest; championing human rights.

I also fail to see what is so convenient about intervening in places like Kosovo and Somalia. Let alone fighting world wars, repelling North Korea/China from South Korea and preventing the Soviet invasion of Europe for 40 years.

[M. Szyslak]

The North Koreans have an incredible amount of artillery installed north of Seoul. They also have enough biological and chemical weapons to kill the entire population in a matter of minutes. The North Koreans have been building for a potential war for 50 years. They spend on their military at the expense of everything else. Kim might be crazy and North Korea might be bankrupt, but their military is nothing to laugh at.

[CaptainCrunch]

Its estimated that North Korea has between 8000 and 11000 pieces of artillary tasked for the destruction of North Korea. Its a combination of 152 mm mortars, 170 mm guns 240 mm MLRS. They can fire a combination of conventional and BioChemical warheads.

Its also estimated that Korea has about 18000 artillary pieces aimed at the DMZ with the ability to fire 500,000 shells per hour at U.S. troops.

Its understood that the U.S. and S Korean's first task would be the elimination of those artillary systems, it takes time for counterbattery systems to locate these guns and rockets, of course North Korea counters this by using mostly mounted artillary systems, or rail based artillary systems.

[habernac]

the US is damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by speede5

Too bad they don't have oil or the U.S. might come and free them from communist oppresion.

We already tried that like 60 years ago.