[rock jock]

Not much commentary out of them lately. Wondering if they are taking lessons from the Iraqis on field tactics, i.e., use of civilians, pretending to surrender, other general acts of cowardice?

[labgrade]

Yes, 'n so is Canada, Britain, Mexico, South-Lubianca & our own people.

[Biff]

FWIW... MY personal opinion is that North Korea will go only as far as their chief ally & trading partner will allow them. The primary arms sellers to Iraq have been Russia, China, France, and Germany in that order. They maintain veto power in the security council despite their blatant conflict of interest. North Korea started rattling its saber when it looked like we were going into Iraq in spite of the UN. I suspect they may have done this with China's encouragement, especially since we haven't heard much from them since the start of military action. Turkey, who had been a staunch ally, denied us access for ground forces after France led them to believe that they would never be admitted to the EU if they helped us.

[capt_happypants]

Kim Jong-Il has reasons to worry, and reasons to be reassured.

From-the-dept-of-"UH-OH!"

1. Decapitation is a very real worry. The U.S. can rapdily act on recent intelligence and deliver several tons of high-explosive goodness right to his doorstep.

2. Precision weapons are very bad news for dug-in forces.

3. Weather and darkness don't affect U.S./U.K. forces. NK doesn't have a robust night-fighting or all-weather capability.

4. The U.S. owns the air.

From-the-dept-of-"WHEW."

1. The U.S. still has problems moving large forces to a theater.

2. He can play to a large 5th Column of academics, activists, and journalists.

3. He can take advantage of Western decency (fake surrenders, atrocities, etc)

[Shooter973]

I think that North Korea and most of the other little counties that are kind of belligerant are standing by and watching to see how we deal with Iraq. After it is over I think that they will either back off on their lip or they will expect to be the next ones we deal with. They are finding out that the American President has the moxie to do exactly what he says he will do. They just had to have it shown to them that they aren't dealing with Clinton or another weak Democrat, like Gore would have been. :scrutiny::eek:

[CWL]

Every country in the world, is assessing the performance of the US military (and UKs). This is what the military & security units of a country is supposed to do.

Football teams scout the 'competition' don't they?

[Jeff White]

I wonder how many non-beligerants have observers with the coalition forces? It used to be quite common for armies to send observers to watch how another operates.

Jeff

[Gary H]

I believe that North Korea acts with the blessing of the Chinese. They will only go as far as the Chinese want them to go. The Chinese want us out of Asia and they have a long term plan to accomplish this.

I suspect that Syria, Iran and to some extent Saudi Arabia are paying a bit more attention than North Korea.

The most attention is paid by the scum at ABC and other networks. I just heard an ABC on the hour news radio anchor (female) characterizing the war as 'dragging on". People are dying and our troops are giving their all and this half-wit news broadcaster has the nerve to put everything in the most anti-U.S. light.:cuss:

[JoeSF]

An article in Time Asia suggests Kim is looking to take American hostages in another Pueblo incident and hold the US for ransom. The attempted intercept of one of our Navy C135s recently was mentioned.

[Standing Wolf]

If North Korea isn't paying very close attention to the war against Islamic terrorist savagry in Iraq, it's even dumber than I think it is.

[Waitone]

Communist China holds North Korea's leash.

NK as a problem could disappear with one phone call from China.

China just loves being able to twist the US's tail.

[Billll]

The Chinese recently cut off the flow of oil across their mutual border, citing "technical difficulties". Also said to have mentioned was how wonderful it would be if Mr. Kim were to "sit down and shaddap", so to speak. I'm sure the actual memo was much more politely worded.
Bottom line - The Chinese don't need him stirring things up with such a good trading partner.
Is Kim watching? You bet. After all Saddam holds #1 (now being served) and he holds #2. We also recently moved some heavy bombers and other paraphanelia to the central Pacific, with much note in the press.

[Bahadur]

Communist China holds North Korea's leash.

NK as a problem could disappear with one phone call from China.

China just loves being able to twist the US's tail.Only if that were true! We could then just deal with the PRC.

Sadly, that is not the case. Though the PRC has a considerable influence over DPRK, the latter is very adept at playing different parties against each other to obtain what it wants.

DPRK draws a part of its strength from "unpredictability." There is no leash.

[Mike Irwin]

Of course they are.

Any nation that doesn't assess another's performance during times of military action isn't doing a good job of providing for its security.

[bogie]

I suspect that Mr. Bush and the current Chinese premier have had a sit-down, where it was explained that we are NOT going to fight a war on two fronts, and that if NK does anything, it's likely to cause China to have a slightly radioactive parking lot on its border...

[Pendragon]

That would be an interesting doctrine:

If you attack us while we are busy fighting another war, we will use overwhelming force up to and including nuclear weapons.

If you want to have a regular war, wait your turn.

:evil:

[Blackhawk]

Of course they are. Everybody is. Especially the French and Iranians.

[Preacherman]

There was a very interesting article in the Telegraph newspaper in Britain a couple of weeks ago, that was discussed here on THR. In it, the author, who seemed VERY well-informed, surmised that China had been asked to deal with the North Korea problem - and had been informed that if NK developed nuclear weapons, the USA would give - GIVE! - nukes to Japan and Taiwan. Now, that's enough to give the Chinese an instant case of haemorrhoids... Japan and (shudder) Taiwan with nukes? Kim Jong Il had better step very, very carefully, because rather than face that prospect, China will happily replace him and his entire government, at five minutes notice.

The more I read (as it slowly comes out) about Bush's diplomatic behind-the-scenes activities, the more impressed I become. This guy is one smart cookie, and doesn't mind hiding it, letting people think he's basically just another good ol' boy, until it's time to show his hand. Good stuff to have in our Commander-in-Chief...

[Bahadur]

There was a very interesting article in the Telegraph newspaper in Britain a couple of weeks ago, that was discussed here on THR. In it, the author, who seemed VERY well-informed, surmised that China had been asked to deal with the North Korea problem - and had been informed that if NK developed nuclear weapons, the USA would give - GIVE! - nukes to Japan and Taiwan.And the Japanese government would just take the nukes and say "Arigato Gozaima****a!"? Not likely, given their almost-allergic reaction to anything that has to do with nuclear weapons.
Kim Jong Il had better step very, very carefully, because rather than face that prospect, China will happily replace him and his entire government, at five minutes notice.Slightly more than five minutes. Were the Chinese attempt to do so, they'd learn some bloody lessons like they did against Vietnam.

Unfortunately for us, the North Koreans have the indigenous capability to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that can carry them.

The Chinese never did have a reason to arm the North Koreans with nukes.