North Korea

I have money going on Iran.

I don't think Iran is likely beyond a little hot air, they are way too close to Russia any US provocation will just be aimed at driving them closer at most.

Everyone is pissed at NK right now, to the point where China might allow some real bulling by one of the 3 powers.

edited 2nd Mar '17 4:40:39 AM by Memers

The Vietnamese suspect's family and community is very shocked to hear that she's involved.

I would be surprised if we actually pulled off any sort of military action. It would be like kicking a hornets nest. They may not get the US but the South Koreans are within arms reach. While I doubt they could level the capital there is a lot of urban area they can reach easily enough. Not sure what the US would try and do. A ground war out there would be messy as fuck especially with the Nork Cult of Personality for Dear Leader.

Well, I suppose there is a chance that China's protection of North Korea has become little more than a glorified bluff at this point and they are not actually willing to wage a war against the strongest military power on earth over everyone's favourite dictatorship. I mean, other than exist between them and US-aligned Korea, what does North Korea actually do for them? Not to mention that the great refugee disaster that likely happens when North Korea collapses is one of those things that's going to happen sooner or later anyway. Might as well get it over with and spend the resources otherwise used for war on mitigating the consequences instead.

I mean, it's not a chance I'd actually like to take, but there is a chance.

Until Xi Jinping officially declares "Screw you Kim, you're on your own", it's still a chance the USA really shouldn't be taking. Especially with our current fuckwit commander-in-chief.

edited 2nd Mar '17 6:30:48 AM by M84

So, how long until the concept of 'Axis of Evil' is brought up again?

Did it ever fully go away?

The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister has warned North Korea against accusing Malaysia of conspiring against them.

Also, North Koreans will no longer enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia starting next Monday.

It it was anyone but Trump action against North Korea might be possible via cooperation with China, but Trump isn't going to work with China, which means that China is liable to defend North Korea.

edited 2nd Mar '17 11:14:39 AM by Silasw

Oh no, Trump will work with China alright - he just needs another perk for his company beforehand.

I was quite surprised to learn that Malaysians could freely travel to North Korea in exchange for the former visa-free travel to Malaysia for North Koreans.

Not that it does a whole lot though since as soon as you enter you're restricted to the capital and wherever the state tourist agency leads you.

Does any other country put that much restriction on tourists?

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/north-korean-suspect-airport-murder-deported-malaysia-not-091917139.html

The North Korean suspect is PNG forever to Malaysia.

Let's just say that there are local travel agencies actually advertising group tours to North Korea in a travel fair. Apparently it is a popular travel destination enough to justify group tours.

x12 I don't think the Russians would like the US fucking around right in their backyard, either.

edited 3rd Mar '17 8:10:55 PM by Bat178

Cross-post with the US Politics thread: Several of the failures of NK missile tests may have been caused by US cyber sabotage. NK likely knows about it by now but it is one of a number of efforts to stop missile launches "left of the launch pad".

Malaysia expels the North Korean ambassador.

The ambassador to Malaysia from North is refusing to apologize for comments made to Malaysia and its investigation of the assasination, so Malaysia has made the ambassador persona non grata and told the ambassador to leave in 48 hours. (Malaysia recalled its own ambassador to North some days ago.)

For once there's a direct consequence upon North Korea for its insulting comments, and that sends a strong message.

edited 5th Mar '17 4:00:11 PM by Trivialis

And the war between Neptune and the House of Kim rages on.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/05/asia/north-korea-projectile/index.html?adkey=bn

So now both nations are banning the other's citizens from leaving the country. I dunno how many Malaysians are in NK, but I feel like keeping Norks in Malaysia is only going to raise the possibiliity of a defection...which might be the point.

It's an expected retaliation from North to expel Malaysians, but keeping Malaysians locked inside is just harsh.

I didn't know Malaysia was doing the same to North Koreans, though. Do you have a source?

Anyway let's see all the events going on between Malaysia and North Korea, and all the ways Malaysia is hitting back at North's charades:

• The North Korean ambassador has left Malaysia on Monday the 6th. Added to that, there's Ri Jong Chol, a North Korean detained for the investigation that was released and escorted out of Malaysia last Saturday. He claimed that the police was threatening his family, but the Malaysian national police chief is going to have a news conference on Tuesday to respond to his comments too.

• The end of the visa-free travel to Malaysia for North Koreans has taken effect on the same day.

• A Malaysian association football team that was supposed to play a match in Pyongyang got the plan canceled, and might instead play in a neutral location, because "the decision to kick out Kang Chol had made it unsafe for Malaysians to visit North Korea at this time", according to the Football Association of Malaysia. Looks like the association was right.

• Malaysia has joined the condemnation of North Korea's ballistic missile launch. It's as if to say "Don't think we didn't see what you did over there too, and don't try to use this as a distraction away from what you did on our soil."

The missile launch also prompted the US to begin sending South Korea the THAAD system.

edited 6th Mar '17 9:29:10 PM by Trivialis

Here you go. Courtesy of the Guardian.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/north-korea-says-temporarily-bans-malaysians-leaving-country-025820926.html

Found this to add to the info.

Thanks!

FF Shinra just posted that...

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/no-raid-n-korean-embassy-police-willing-wait-065200593.html

There's a chart on the events that happened.

Oh what a time to be a Korean man serving in the military!

edited 8th Mar '17 2:36:49 AM by dRoy

Video emerges of man claiming to be murdered North Korean's son

He is apparently being protected by a group called Cheollima Civil Defense.

edited 8th Mar '17 3:10:45 AM by TerminusEst