North Korea - how serious should we take them?

[Burwood]

Cobnapint said:

poo at Paul's said:

Is anyone falling for the NK st? Surely not??

The SK leader has the hook well and truly stuck in the roof of his mouth.

If it were left to him I'm sure he'd be declaring that him and Kim are besties now Kim has crossed his heart and hoped to die that he'd get his nukes cut up when he got back.

I don’t blame the cynicism but really, what exactly is Kim going to do to hoodwink anyone.

[Pommy]

Burwood said:

Cobnapint said:

poo at Paul's said:

Is anyone falling for the NK st? Surely not??

The SK leader has the hook well and truly stuck in the roof of his mouth.

If it were left to him I'm sure he'd be declaring that him and Kim are besties now Kim has crossed his heart and hoped to die that he'd get his nukes cut up when he got back.

I don’t blame the cynicism but really, what exactly is Kim going to do to hoodwink anyone.

Get all the sanctions removed, trade increased, income and funds up and allow his leadership team to travel and undertake business deals,all by saying hes changed. More income production to continue his armament developments.

[Cobnapint]

Pommy said:

Get all the sanctions removed, trade increased, income and funds up and allow his leadership team to travel and undertake business deals, all by saying he's changed. More income production to continue his armament developments.

That's the only conclusion we can come to at the minute - he seems to have undergone a personality transformation, perhaps driven by the fact that Moon wants the same as he does.

But if there's even a sniff of him secretly continuing his nuclear program at the end of all this, there'll only be one option left for the west.

Whatever agreements are made, they have to be made official through the UN so there's comeback if he reneges.

Remember, NK (like Russia) has a very, very long record of taking the rest of the world for idiots.

[anonymous-user]

Pommy said:

Burwood said:

Cobnapint said:

poo at Paul's said:

Is anyone falling for the NK st? Surely not??

The SK leader has the hook well and truly stuck in the roof of his mouth.

If it were left to him I'm sure he'd be declaring that him and Kim are besties now Kim has crossed his heart and hoped to die that he'd get his nukes cut up when he got back.

I don’t blame the cynicism but really, what exactly is Kim going to do to hoodwink anyone.

Get all the sanctions removed, trade increased, income and funds up and allow his leadership team to travel and undertake business deals,all by saying hes changed. More income production to continue his armament developments.

Seems like having sanctions removed and increased trade and business deals etc all make a nuclear war (or any war) less likely in the region though.

A N Korea more integrated into the world and connected to other nations, must be safer than an isolated one.

[jmorgan]

Still wondering how Kim lets his populace know there is a better world out there and me and my family have been lying to you all these years.

[Cobnapint]

jmorgan said:

Still wondering how Kim lets his populace know there is a better world out there and me and my family have been lying to you all these years.

His only route would be this: See how our glorious nuclear missiles forced the Americans out and compelled the South to agree to our demands for reunification.
(Clap you bds).

[MDMetal]

Or to say they were right to persue nuclear ability and now they sit as equals at the table. They've always wanted to be seen as equals but all they get is wrist slapping.

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Cobnapint said:

jmorgan said:

Still wondering how Kim lets his populace know there is a better world out there and me and my family have been lying to you all these years.

His only route would be this: See how our glorious nuclear missiles forced the Americans out and compelled the South to agree to our demands for reunification.
(Clap you bds).

And I'm fairly sure he sees the South as a meal ticket. One comment he made to Moon (IIRC) was about how their own transport network (trains?) didn't compare to theirs..... hint hint.

Again, furthering his peoples lot and standard of living will lead to public self congratulating, and no doubt go down very well.

Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Sunday 29th April 11:43

[Penelope Stopit]

I think it was in 1952 when the Chinese that were fighting the so called NATO forces (USA was dominant in all this) arranged for piece talks with the Americans and dragged those worthless peace talks out for a few weeks while their military dug their trenches and tunnel network along a massive front line, this I think happened on at least two occasions although the trench digging time bought was the big one
All that can be hoped for is that things are more sincere this time and Donald Trump becomes the greatest president America has ever had

Should Donald become the greatest president ever......The programme Spitting Image will have to return to our screens to aid us in retaining whatever sanity we now have left

[BlackLabel]

This all just seems too good to be true.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/29/nort...

[jmorgan]

BlackLabel said:

This all just seems too good to be true.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/29/nort...

Its a big country......

[Cobnapint]

Let's just get a grip, we all know the old saying - if something seems to good to be true, it probably is.

You just know further down the line from this we'll all be wearing donkey ears and saying to each other, just how the fk were we so stupid as to fall for that.

[anonymous-user]

BlackLabel said:

This all just seems too good to be true.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/29/nort...

they tested the weapons, they work so don't need to continue testing. It is pure lip service.

[Murph7355]

jmorgan said:

Its a big country......

NK? Half the size of the UK. So not that big (though big enough to hide some factories I guess ).

[AceOfHearts]

For the guys calling custard on me last week



I have brought a lot of books home with me as an insight to what is being sold over there. Here is the first page of 'anecdotes of kim jong un' which may interest some of you guys



And some classic primary school posters





I must say though the trip was amazing, it was so interesting and being able to see the country in their view was enlightening.

It was also genuinely good fun with and awesome group which i wasnt expecting! Will definitely be going back. I can also confirm most or the tour stuff i saw before on YouTube was bs.

Seeing Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung in the mausoleum though was quite intense!

[Burwood]

Weren't you somewhat worried about safety during your trip. I have to say, perhaps it's BS, what one reads but I wouldn't go there if you paid me

Edited by Burwood on Monday 30th April 14:12

[jmorgan]

AceOfHearts said:

For the guys calling custard on me last week

No mention of PH in that book?

[Silverbullet767]

AceOfHearts said:

For the guys calling custard on me last week

Was the food edible?
Did you eat anything while you were there?
Did you ever feel threatened by your guides as to what you could and couldn't take pictures of?
Did you get the sense that people wanted to talk but couldn't?
Were people aware of what happened this week with the North and South? And if so how was it potrayed?
Did everything look like a facade? Or did the people going about their business look genuine?

And finally.....there's no custard in your picture, didn't they sell any?

[AceOfHearts]

Silverbullet767 said:

AceOfHearts said:

For the guys calling custard on me last week

Was the food edible?
Did you eat anything while you were there?
Did you ever feel threatened by your guides as to what you could and couldn't take pictures of?
Did you get the sense that people wanted to talk but couldn't?
Were people aware of what happened this week with the North and South? And if so how was it potrayed?
Did everything look like a facade? Or did the people going about their business look genuine?

And finally.....there's no custard in your picture, didn't they sell any?

No custard there im afraid, and no i didnt feel in danger at any point. I was a bit unsure before i went but after 1 day was totally at ease.

To answer some questions then:

-The food in general was great, lots of bbq, fish, kim chi. I also had dog soup which was actually quite good. We went for Kim Il Sungs birthday and during the celebration talked the guides into taking a couple of us to some local street food stands which were also amazing. Highlight was black pudding filled with rice which was delicious.

-The guides were pretty easy on photos. No taking pictures of soldiers and also in places like the mausoleum we werent allowed cameras or phones which was understandable. I got told off once for taking a photo i shouldnt have and was watched whilst i deleted it. Overall they didnt care too much as long as you were respectful with any pictures of the leaders.

-I came back before all these recent developments

-The people and guides were amazingly friendly and open. The only topics we were pre warned to avoid were about death camps and the personal lives of the leaders.

-Yes the place was genuine and i dont think there was any facade to it. We drove through the countryside a lot and saw a lot of poorer areas which they didnt try to hide. The countryside reminded me a lot of Transylvania strangely.

We did get some weird performances at schools and restaurants but i can see their point of view in it now. They believe the world has a tainted view of NK due to American propaganda (probably not far wrong), and they understand thats why tourism isnt big there. The point is though when they do get tourists they are so desperate to show off the country they love in the best possible light i dont think they realise it comes across as a bit weird to us sometimes

Sorry for the long reply but hope that answers some questions

[AceOfHearts]

Here are a few more photos which are probably not what think of when talking 'North Korea'