What is Digg?122 Comments
- Brotoi, on 03/31/2009, -0/+39
Last time they launched one of these missiles (Taepodong-2), it came apart less than thirty seconds after launch. Most observers felt the NK controllers had to hit "self-destruct" because they lost control of the missile as soon as it left the ground.
Lots of folks seem worried, but I'm not convinced they'll be able to get off the launch pad, let alone put a satellite into orbit. - JackSchittt, on 03/31/2009, -2/+33Exactly why do they need a communications satellite anyway?
They don't have the internet. Most of them don't even have electricity, let alone telephone service. Cell phones are unheard of. They're entirely cut off from the outside world. Most still listen to the radio, and there are only a couple of "official" statements. Many don't have television. And most of them are so poor, they couldn't afford the stuff even if it were available.
There is no reason to believe that this is a "communications satellite". There's no communications network to speak of.
- toconnor, on 03/31/2009, -0/+26You realize that once a missle leaves your country it is no longer just your own business don't you?
- quetzzz, on 03/31/2009, -4/+28War: Used to stimulate the economy since 5000BC.
- elTito, on 03/31/2009, -2/+23I think NK needs to worry more about pissing off the Japanese than it does the US. They made it clear when North Korea tested a nuke a few years back that they weren't going to put up with this sort of crap.
Japan could also be a nuclear power any time it chose to be. - sHockz, on 03/31/2009, -2/+22persia? im pretty sure persia doesnt exist anymore.
- eatsushi, on 03/31/2009, -2/+20That's a horrible way to think. N. Korea's government is bad, but the people in there deserve a chance to see what is outside of their cage. Vietnam was like a fly that kicked an elephants ass, and we could have just blown the entire country up and call it a day. We didn't thankfully and now we trade, visit the country, and have all sorts of benefits to the non violence. On the other hand we bomb the middle east daily, and now they hate us, create 'terrorists' and we simply cannot quit because of our obession with oil. If anything, what needs to not exist are people like you.
- Sogui, on 03/31/2009, -1/+18PROTIP: It's not a satellite, it's a missile test.
- Rivfader, on 03/31/2009, -0/+16When your leader claims he is a living god it is.
Anyway I am not worried last time they shot off a missile nothing happened it was ran on epic fail rocket fuel. - JackSchittt, on 03/31/2009, -0/+15The problem with invading North Korea is the humanitarian crisis it would cause.
The amount of people fleeing the country would be unmanageable.
Plus, there's the whole "Cult of Personality" thing. Most citizens think of Kim Jong Il as a god. Hell, official news sources claim things like the guy makes all holes-in-one playing golf and he doesn't piss or *****. It's almost like Stockholm Syndrome, taken way beyond "extreme". They're so hypnotized that they'd gladly die for him. You'd see civillians willingly being used as human shields, mass suicides in his honor, etc.
And Kim Jong Il knows this. He might be ***** crazy, but the guy ain't stupid. He knows that other countries handle him with kid gloves not because they consider him threatening, but also partially because they want to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
Kim knows he'd ultimately lose any war. But he also knows that he's got just enough firepower to go down in a blaze of glory. He'd not only take himself down, but he'd do some significant damage to South Korea, Japan, and even the US, who's troops he knows are already stretched thin. He'd virtually take down his own citizens with him as well. We'd win in the end, but the mess that would be created in the meantime woudl be beyond catastrophic to the entire world.
And like I said, Kim knows this. And he also knows that it's a situation we all want to avoid. Which is why he pulls the stunts he pulls -- he knows that ultimately, nobody will actually *do* anything about it until they have no other choice. - inactive, on 03/30/2009, -1/+15just like in the movies!!
- CoD4, on 03/31/2009, -2/+14North korea really needs to be put down, calling outside of n korea is a crime, WTF???
- NCSUspoon, on 03/31/2009, -0/+11Shoot the missle down. They are going to do what they want anyways. They need to learn to listen to the international community.
- Shipyaad, on 03/31/2009, -1/+12Let's see... what happened last time we got into a shooting match with the Chinese? We completely destroyed seven divisions of Chinese troops - ***** 'em up so badly that they just dissolved those units rather than attempt to re-staff or re-equip them.
No, I don't think the Chinese will be very eager to get into a fight with us. They NEED us. Who else would buy their *****? - NovaPrime9, on 03/31/2009, -1/+12Are you suggesting that they'd swim here?
- Zaxcomp, on 03/31/2009, -0/+11Military communications is likely the case.
- lnxfi, on 03/31/2009, -0/+10It sounds like the ships are mainly there to shoot the missile down if it's a threat to anyone, not if the test goes as stated. Scary though. That country is a few marbles short of a full deck.
- Zaxcomp, on 03/31/2009, -1/+11Japan is legally forbidden of having offensive weaponry. They are a pacifist nation.
- dreamache, on 03/31/2009, -2/+12Yeah boy oh boy, this sure sounds like war... Let's just have them back the ships off and let them launch that rocket wherever they want.. because self-defense could make it look like a war, and we certainly wouldn't want that!
- Tomasborlin, on 03/31/2009, -4/+13SET SAIL FOR FAIL!
- Tyrghast, on 03/31/2009, -0/+9Didn't Japan agree not have both a standing army and develop any kind of weapons as part of the treaty they signed with the USA?
- RevChris2, on 03/31/2009, -0/+9reave north korea aroooone
- BohicaTwentyTwo, on 03/31/2009, -1/+10The last time North Korea did this, they said that was a satellite launch too. In fact, even though the missile splashed down in the Pacific, they told everyone in their country that they sucessfully put a satellite into orbit. To this day, everyone in North Korea thinks they have satellite television.
- amabaie, on 03/30/2009, -8/+16It sure sounds like war. Don't we have enough problems in the Middle East and Persia?
- Hetman, on 03/31/2009, -1/+9I hate the idea of war. I was against the war in Iraq. But there is a difference between Iraq and North Korea. The main difference is south korea is in danger. They are a thriving democracy. They are our allies. If we are going to use military force, if they need help we should give it to them.
- Bhima, on 03/31/2009, -2/+10I wouldn't sweat it much. The world has always been on the brink of disaster and amazingly Armageddon never seems to get here.
- warlax27, on 03/31/2009, -0/+8But we are so small.....SOOOOOOO SMALL!
- Trekhawk, on 03/30/2009, -0/+8and the financial markets, and the housing market, and the auto industry, and the Federal Reserve, and .......
- jstem1994, on 03/31/2009, -0/+7As a Navy vet, this kind of thing (deployment to monitor something) happens all the time.
- InSearchOfTruth, on 03/31/2009, -0/+7cool, kick their asses and liberate those poor people of north korea. If Kim Jong Ill wants to be an ***** well.... we're not going to let him be an *****.
- Sogui, on 03/31/2009, -0/+7Because it's not a satellite
- minnecrapolis, on 03/31/2009, -0/+6Other people's business...hmmm.
I suppose you could look at it that way or you could take the high road and realize that the rest of the world has a responsibility to protect itself from tyrannical madmen like Kim Jong Il. - minnecrapolis, on 03/31/2009, -0/+6But in the event of Rapture, I'm taking all your stuff.
- whorunbartertwn, on 03/31/2009, -0/+6What are you the guy who turtles in Madagascar when playing Risk?
- theuber1337, on 03/31/2009, -0/+6Technically, we've been at war with N. Korea since 1950. The Korean war ended in an armistice, meaning the military is at cease-fire. There are still thousands of U.S. troops in S. Korea, and about a dozen soldiers from both sides die in a firefight each year on the DMZ. /history rant
- acklefutz, on 03/31/2009, -0/+6this is a good documentary showing just how crazy and oppressed North Korea is:
The Vice Guide to North Korea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ixGYzbLz0 - shutaro, on 03/31/2009, -1/+7and the war on drugs the global warming and the bird flu and the communism and the volcanoes and the pirates and the salmonella and the Conficker...
- shutaro, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5Madness!
- Sixter, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5According to the official N.K forum," the DPRK is planning to launch an experimental communications satellite.
"
http://www.korea-dpr.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum.cgi/s ...
...they try so hard, but fail even harder. - NovaPrime9, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5Japan has some defense capabilities. They are allowed to protect themselves with a minimal force. And, I guess they get to pray that someone will jump in and help.
- inactive, on 03/31/2009, -2/+7We should have invaded N Korea instead of Iraq, there's a whole world of reason for this ***** up government to disappear.
But I suppose China would have problems with this. - KRa104, on 03/31/2009, -0/+5Those forums are hilarious, especially how everyone addresses their dictator as: "the Great Fatherly Leader or our Dear leader comrade Kim Jong Il."
Here's a thread discussing the amazing human rights situation in N. Korea: http://www.korea-dpr.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum.cgi?f ... - Flytrap, on 03/31/2009, -1/+5Of course it does... You know it as Iran.
That is where the persian carpets come from. - Johnagain, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4yup - They can only have defensive weapons and limited armed forces.
Peace treaty ending WWII - mksmothers, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4We aren't in this together. We are in this seperately, our interests just sometimes intersect.
- kenedamick, on 03/31/2009, -1/+5This is a thread full of fails.
- Zaxcomp, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4So you want him to use powers he does not have the authority for, and cause death because of it?
- Harabeck, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4Don't bother popping it, the nukes will do it for you!
- trevorh, on 03/31/2009, -0/+4North Korea doesn't really have much in the way of warships
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_North_ ...
they have a few ships but they're navy is pretty outdated and not that large. - Number23, on 03/31/2009, -2/+6“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently”
--Henry Ford.
Even failure can teach them a lot. Given that their missile technology will be shared with Iran, Syria and Buddha knows who else, this test represents a threat that extends far beyond the immediate region. -
Show 51 - 100 of 123 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is