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	Name:	copperline -
	Subject:	How seriously should we take North Korea?
	Date:	4/3/2013 5:37:57 PM

I've been watching this closely myself, and admit I'm worried about what might happen.   As far as I can tell, most of this starts with the usual North Korean bluster... but with the added risk of unintended consequences and miscalculation by either side.   Agree with Hodja, this country's culture is just very, very different... and hard to anticipate.

It raises a central question to me. Is North Korea a rational actor or a living proof that a propaganda machine can eventually develop enough self-deception that an entire government becomes delusional?      Most of the speculation supporting the idea that there is a rational reason for what he does rests on the idea that this 30 yr old who unexpectedly ascended to Supreme Leader is trying to create a crisis to solidify internal respect for his rule... is that even possible in a culture that so reveres age & experience?     But what happens if this young fellow believes he is a god-like figure as his family has portrayed itself for generations?

From what little info gets out of there, it appears that the entire country is on the verge of internal calamity almost all the time... poor infrastructure providing inadequate nutrition on such a scale that physical growth rates are measurably diminished, food production & distribution networks are broken down. The much-talked about Cooperative Zone with So. Korea provides one of the only sources of currency and productivity for the country... and they just shut it down in the last 24 hours?!   Impoverished, with an incompetent government armed with nuclear weapons.... really, really dangerous.

Other messages in this thread:

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How seriously should we take North Korea? - MartiniMan - 4/3/2013 4:16:28 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - MrHodja - 4/3/2013 4:38:02 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - copperline - 4/3/2013 5:37:57 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - copperline - 4/3/2013 8:41:04 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - MartiniMan - 4/3/2013 9:21:57 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - Lifer - 4/3/2013 5:48:44 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - muddauber - 4/3/2013 6:43:24 PM

Forget North Korea!! They are not the Threat. - Mack - 4/3/2013 7:42:42 PM

How seriously should we take North Korea? - Scottie - 4/4/2013 1:33:18 PM

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