Re: North Korea's problems

["Glen Boren" <firegod@kansas.net>]

Ed;
Thanks for the update. I guess I better get out of my hole and pay attention
to what is going on.
Thanks again,
Glen

----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Evanhoe <gangster@korean-war.com>
To: <KOREAN-WAR-L@raven.cc.ku.edu>
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 11:03 AM
Subject: North Korea's problems


> At 09:11 AM 12/9/2001 -0600, you wrote:
> >Being somewhat off-topic, why in the world would we want to start that
mess
> >again ????
> >Glen
>
> I can't see "we" (or us) starting this mess again and I don't think North
> Korea does either, at least any time soon.  However, there is solid
> information that North Korea has an active BW program, a stockpile of BW,
> several thousand tons of CW and a few -- at least two and possibly as many
> as twelve -- tactical nuclear weapons, plus missiles capable of delivering
> the CBR weapons to South Korea or Japan and in the not-too-distant future,
> the United States. In the hands of a stable, reasonable government this
> would not pose a serious problem for the U.S. and the rest of the world.
>
> North Korea is not a stable, reasonable country.  It is an economic basket
> case with the current leadership holding on to power through
> cradle-to-grave indoctrination of the masses that all their troubles are
> the fault of the United States and/or South Korea, as well as through
> quick, brutal, internal suppression of anyone/any group who questions the
> party line: There have been a number of unreported-in-the-media incidents
> in the past few years, some involving entire small villages looting food
> depots, etc as well as criminal gangs doing the same to supply the growing
> black market.
>
> In the past they have been able to redirect anger about internal failings
> toward the United States and/or South Korea by blaming their (the North
> Korean government's) failings on the U.S. and South Korea.  As long as
they
> had complete control over information coming into North Korea from the
> outside world, this worked but they no longer have complete control of
> information, mainly due to their need for trade and because of the famine.
>
> In other words, the government's hold on the people is slipping and this
> poses a serious problem for the current North Korean leadership and, in
> turn, for the rest of the world.  If the internal discontent becomes too
> bad, the major fear by the U.S. is North Korea's leadership might try to
> keep power by attacking the south, hoping for a quick victory and, thus, a
> strong bargaining position.  But to be successful, it is almost certain
> they would use some, or all, of their CBR inventory -- most likely only
> their CW while using bio and nuclear weapons as threats to Japan, the U.S.
> and the rest of the world. It is also likely they would use their CBR
> inventory if they were losing, or if they were attacked.
>
> The bottom line to this is the United States, and the world, are in a real
> "Catch 22" situation, and with few viable options.
>
> Regards
>
> Ed
>
>
>
>
> Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523-0916
> Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
> Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
> Co-list owner: KOREAN-WAR-L  (Hosted by University of Kansas)
> Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com
>
>