North Korea launching ICBM or Sattelite

[Balkan-MiG]

i guess N. Korea is jealous that the south is smarter than the north....

Why do you stereotype so much?

DPRK isnt a stupid nation wridden in poverty. Most of the latter was White House inspired propaganda [Especially the 'No-westerners-are-allowed-there' type]

Both nations population have schooling and are pretty smart, they just use their technology differently. For example, South Korea uses a lot of technology for the economy, like cars, mobile phones, good washing machines and such. DPRK uses more of their technology on weapons and other military-based developments.

 

[A Can of Man]

Balkan-MiG, there is hardly a thing in the North that is really working properly at the moment. As for schooling at the higher levels, they lag far behind South Korea. The only reason why South Korea doesn't develop long ranged missiles is because it has a treaty with the United States that prevents it from doing so.
You really should learn more about North Korea rather than try to guess. It's military tech is surprisingly good considering the state the country is in overall but it still lags far behind South Korea. South Korea's launched its first amphibious assault ship (like the USS Wasp and Tarawa in terms of concept) and it's already developed the world's first operational OICW, has already long since fielded its own Self Propelled Howitzer K-9 which is among the best in the world and has seen some success on the export market as well. It's just the product of a strong economy and a culture obsessed with education.
South Korea's got its share of problems but comparing South Korean tech with North Korean tech is a complete mismatch.

 

[Balkan-MiG]

I dont disagree, really. Im just pointing out that DPRK isnt what the white house says it is.

 

[A Can of Man]

Everyone over here is worried that North Korea is going to implode which could lead to major chaos and perhaps a war (many various scenarios exist).

 

[Balkan-MiG]

Nobody in Australia cares much about North Korea, to people its just 'Another red country'.

I wonder what people are thinking in South Korea?

 

[A Can of Man]

Pretty divided. That's for sure.

 

[Balkan-MiG]

LOL!!! That was epic.

 

[Partisan]

Why do you stereotype so much?

DPRK isnt a stupid nation wridden in poverty. Most of the latter was White House inspired propaganda [Especially the 'No-westerners-are-allowed-there' type]

Both nations population have schooling and are pretty smart, they just use their technology differently. For example, South Korea uses a lot of technology for the economy, like cars, mobile phones, good washing machines and such. DPRK uses more of their technology on weapons and other military-based developments.

Is this why nearly 25% of the population are malnourished? The rest get the toys and the education? Or is it a case that the grand central plan simply doesn't work?

Either way N Korea wants Obamas attention, ratcheting the situation up with a nuclear missile, might get them to near the top of the list, but I don't think that he's going to buy into their game. I'm wondering what efforts are be put into sabotage, so that N Korea can go on the back burner.

 

[-- Dusty]

25%? Not far from what I heard, but at last count it was reportedly 35%.

 

[Balkan-MiG]

That is total BS.

Notice, AMERICAN citizens have travlelled to DPRK as tourists, and they have said that the people are very happy in the country, that there is plenty of food and is extremely clean.
Not only Americans tourists say so, but even Chinese, European and middle-eastern and such also beleive that the White House has extremely over exaggerated the problem in DPRK [Which is technological, like washing machines].

 

[A Can of Man]

Balkan MiG, they're only allowed to go on a guided tour and visit the homes of those designated as tourism approved families.
North Korea's farming has been failing since the late '90s and South Korean tax money has gone into sending food to North Korea for years now. Food and supplies go into North Korea on a regular basis but nothing comes out except defectors and refugees. They tell of a very different North Korea than what you describe.
Kids in North Korean schools are far shorter than they should be and are also obviously malnourished. And those were the kids the North Koreans allowed South Koreans to film. You know what? Why don't you just shut up about something you obviously are completely clueless about?
No, the situation in North Korea is very desperate and we're all worried that it'll collapse on its own.
The few things that are keeping North Korea alive:
Aid from South Korea and China.
Black Market supply of goods from China into North Korea.
North Korean government's absolute control over its population (though this is getting harder due to the black market economy)

 

[Balkan-MiG]

North Korea was failing in the 90's because the USSR collapsed. Many countries suffered from that sad event.
The food sent there by SK was to help rebuild DPRK, seeing as the USSR had collapsed.
Actually, I have read that a large amount of the 'refugees' were actually South Koreans posing for propaganda to discriminate DPRK.
DPRK isnt surviving on a black market economy. What, you think the US petty sanctions would do anything?

The people in DPRK have free housing, education and health care, something that plenty of countries lack. No, the houses in DPRK arent mansions you find in hollywood, but are [In Pyongyang] apartments with heating, running water and electricity.
The proletariat of DPRK are actually not badly trained peasants, but are pretty good workers. It is predicted that the DPRK might become the most important trading hub in North-East Asia, apparently.

 

[A Can of Man]

Dude, have you even met some of the North Koreans who live in South Korea? Coming over here is just the beginning for them. The sort of hardships they face here are just incredible. If you hail a taxi in Seoul, can you tell if the driver is North Korean? Bet you can't.
The failing of farming in North Korea has nothing to do with the fall of the USSR. It's just agricultural mismanagement. The erosion in the soil in North Korea has gotten so bad that a lot of the formerly important farmlands are now longer producing crops.
North Korea is surviving on aid and the black market economy. The North Korean government doesn't stop the black market at all because they realize that it's one of the important things keeping the country alive.
Heating, electricity, water ... are you on drugs?
Most of their buildings don't even have paint jobs (and if you ask me why this is important, learn more about buildings and the function of paint).
Most of North Korea doesn't have electricity.
But what do I know? I only live right next door, met North Koreans, served on an island just 10 kilometers off North Korea's coast where the residents actually talk in North Korean accents... yeah I'm clueless alright.

 

[Balkan-MiG]

A LOT of the North Korea refugees fled in the 90's, when DPRK wasnt no better than Yeltsins Russia. Of course it was a crap hole then, even I would have wanted to escape. Now, fortunately, it is a different story.
Usually in socialism, the government considers industry > argiculture, so that is why argiculture isnt as sucessful as industry there. Even so, rice, potatoes and soybeans are DPRK's main argicultural produce, and usually reach areas sucesfully.
The aid the US and SK has been giving was to help with the large floods that ravaged DPRK in 1995 and 2007.

Living conditions could be better, though [In technological terms]. Pretty much the biggest problem is having enough oil to supply the collectivised farm tractors to keep going, and to fuel industrial projects.

 

[-- Dusty]

Balkan MiG, what makes you such an expert on how life is in NK? Better yet, what makes you such an expert on American politics so you can say stuff about the Whitehouse that I know for a fact you can't back up?

One of the jobs I have is working with a group that supplies aid to NK (and every third world country as well). My source is valid. Yours is....what?

I havn't seen anyone point a finger at Australia, yet you do a fine job of pointing a finger at the US. I would appreciate it if you would cease your accusatory comments about the US.

 

[-- Dusty]

Why do you stereotype so much?

Why do you?

DPRK isnt a stupid nation wridden in poverty.

How do you know this?

Most of the latter was White House inspired propaganda [Especially the 'No-westerners-are-allowed-there' type]

How do you know this? Please cite your sources.

Both nations population have schooling and are pretty smart, they just use their technology differently.

How do you know this? Have you been to both countries?

 

[A Can of Man]

"Even so, rice, potatoes and soybeans are DPRK's main argicultural produce, and usually reach areas sucesfully."
Fiction.
Balkan-MiG, North Koreans continue to escape North Korea to this very day. It happens often enough so it's no longer big news anymore like back in the 90's. There is a whole economy along the North Korea-Chinese border based on smuggling goods and people. The goods go into North Korea, people get smuggled out.

 

[Balkan-MiG]

Balkan MiG, what makes you such an expert on how life is in NK? Better yet, what makes you such an expert on American politics so you can say stuff about the Whitehouse that I know for a fact you can't back up?

One of the jobs I have is working with a group that supplies aid to NK (and every third world country as well). My source is valid. Yours is....what?

I havn't seen anyone point a finger at Australia, yet you do a fine job of pointing a finger at the US. I would appreciate it if you would cease your accusatory comments about the US.

Im not saying im a expert, when did I say that? I am reciting what I have read in books from the local library.
Dude, its fact that the white house produces propaganda. The SAME could be said about the Kremlin, and the former South African government [They really had it in for Mandela].
Dude, Im not even Australia, I just live in Australia. You can point as many fingers as you want towards Australia, it does have many flaws, like EVERY other country. And im not accusing the US, im accusing the WHITE HOUSE. I know/knew Americans that went to my school, and even they think the white house is a messed-up hole.

DPRK has a GDP of around 1.5 thousand, which are higher than other third-world countries like Somalia, Madagascar and Ethiopia. Though still 1.5 thousand GDP is low.

South Korea has their own car comapanies, appliance company and they export it a lot. Thats the difference with DPRK, they dont [as far as i know] have a domestic car-company, and they dont have as good washing machines as they would do in the South.

 

[-- Dusty]

Im not saying im a expert, when did I say that?

That is the image you are putting out by your mode of speech.

I am reciting what I have read in books from the local library.

And those books are inaccurate.

Dude, its fact that the white house produces propaganda. The SAME could be said about the Kremlin, and the former South African government [They really had it in for Mandela].

Doesn't matter.

Dude, Im not even Australia, I just live in Australia. You can point as many fingers as you want towards Australia, it does have many flaws, like EVERY other country.

I havn't pointed any fingers at them. I think you should quit back tracking.

And im not accusing the US, im accusing the WHITE HOUSE. I know/knew Americans that went to my school, and even they think the white house is a messed-up hole.

And what do those kids know? And when you accuse our leaders, you accuse us. Doesn't matter if we like our leaders or not, doesn't matter if you don't like our leaders. Quite frankly I don't give a damn if you don't like our leaders, I don't care what you don't like about America period, because you're not American.

Doesn't matter how much you don't like a political platform of any country, you should be more respectful of them. They are still human, just like you.

DPRK has a GDP of around 1.5 thousand, which are higher than other third-world countries like Somalia, Madagascar and Ethiopia. Though still 1.5 thousand GDP is low.

Whatever.

South Korea has their own car comapanies, appliance company and they export it a lot. Thats the difference with DPRK, they dont [as far as i know] have a domestic car-company, and they dont have as good washing machines as they would do in the South.

Balkan, you really need to clean up your own front yard before you complain about other people's backyards.

 

[A Can of Man]

Compared with Somalia and Ethiopia, any country is a wealthy country. Except Burkina Faso. And by the way you're describing things, "South Korea has better washing machines" it's clear you don't understand a damn thing.
The only real thing holding South Korea back from being a developed country is its closed culture. Inevitable if you're strongly Confucian. Either that or just become even richer like Japan.
North Korea falls behind in every capacity that requires money.
If your books on North Korea were written in the 1960's, you very well could be correct. Back in the '60s North Korea was a wealthier country than South Korea. Then the two countries' fates took different turns. South Korea went into dictatorship that ironically ended up saving the country and North Korea's dictatorship continued and continued to slide (a pattern repeated by just about every Communist country except for China, who have for all practical purposes abandoned Communism).
If you like Serbia so much, you can go back to Serbia.
Oh and I see you've been conveniently avoiding my posts and the beautiful night shot of North Korea.