Dictators . North Korea . Religion (Translators of God)

[Royal]

4th largest military in the world (ignored from online stats)
and a starving nation.

hmmm

Best analytics would concern the probability of war given the military size and economic hardship. We should of sent Rodman to say "Hey Kim, start some war rhetoric and you get 15-20% of any military expenditures granted to us in the Pacific to buy you food."

[Royal]

"This time it's a little different, I think it's quite serious in the sense that Kim Jong-un actually cornered himself. He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of wiggling room in domestic politics, in authority structure. So once he established this corner, he has to do something before backing down. I think backing down is a very difficult [option] for the domestic situation so this is a quite unique, we have never seen this before ... in fact he made it very clear they cannot accept this same kind of limbo - not war not peace."

Han Shik Park, a professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/ins ... 44362.html

[Pigeon]

The US has announced it is moving an advanced missile defence system to the Pacific island of Guam as North Korea steps up its warlike rhetoric.

The US Department of Defense said on Wednesday it would deploy the ballistic Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (Thaad) in the coming weeks.

The Thaad system includes a truck-mounted launcher, interceptor missiles, and AN/TPY-2 tracking radar, together with an integrated fire control system.

The Pentagon said the missile system would be moved to Guam, a US territory with a significant US military presence, as a "precautionary move to strengthen our regional defence posture against the North Korean regional ballistic missile threat".

Officials have also confirmed that the USS John McCain, a destroyer capable of intercepting missiles, has been positioned off the Korean peninsula.

[Royal]

*Note Worthy Days

15 April Kim Il-sung's Birthday Also known as the Day of the Sun. 2 days
25 April Military Foundation Day Kim Il-Sung moved date from 8 February to the date of establishment of his guerilla army in 1932.

Old article from Christian site on NK Day of the Sun

North Korea wants to celebrate 2012 with a “bang” and, therefore, plans to launch a satellite in April. It is still unclear if the regime will indeed try to shoot the satellite into space, because the international community, especially the United States and South Korea, have threatened to abstain from giving the promised food aid if they do so.

Like the Israelites who worked themselves to death for the glory of the Egyptian pharaohs, the North Korean people are suffering under the increased burden as celebrating the anniversary and the “state’s progress” is mandatory. Streets have to be clean, apartment buildings, homes, fences, etc. need to receive a new layer of paint. Citizens have to bear the expense themselves. Many households have to contribute 20,000 won for the state’s “total mobilization period” and the upcoming artistic performances. To put this amount into perspective, an average worker receives a monthly salary of only 2,000 won. People who are able to trade on the black market, however, have an income of a little less than 2,000 won a day.

Like their fellow citizens, Christians in North Korea are bracing themselves for the April events as they wake up every day in a country that is full of the idolization of its leaders. Even worse is the increased terror level of the government. One church leader described this in his letter, “All executives, citizens and even students are forced to attend meetings. Between December 30th and January 8th there have been thorough investigations to find anyone who has not participated sincerely or has not participated at all in the national mourning of the death of the leader. Therefore all criticism meetings and self-reflection classes are being closely watched and secret agents are seen everywhere. All these movements are to prevent any sort of individual dangerous elements who may not devote themselves to the ‘military first’ policy and protest against its current system. It seems like it is part of an extreme reign of terror just to create a terror atmosphere. It is very difficult to speak our minds, even to our friends and family. There is a good chance we will be arrested if we speak freely.”

The North Korean Church deeply appreciates the prayer of their foreign brothers and sisters during these very difficult weeks. “Thank you so much for generously supporting us with love and prayers. We will always listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit is telling us and will follow His guidance in our ministry and our lives,” adds the church leader. “We will try harder to live according to His words and will.”

Father, we lift up to You our brothers and sisters in North Korea who bear the daily burden of oppression and fear. We call on You to make the voice of Your Spirit clear to guide them as they serve You in this land and as they draw near to You. Sustain them and protect them from pressure to worship Kim Jong-Un and his grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, during these festivities. Strengthen us, as well, to be faithful in praying for them. In the name of Jesus, who rules above all earthly kings, Amen.
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/pray/prayer ... -Suffering

Oh, the irony.

[Royal]

What is the end-game for North Korea ruling elite?

December 2012, Kim announced plans to launch another long-range rocket in a renewed effort to send a satellite into space. "We will continue to exercise our legitimate right to launch satellites." Two days after the government announces a delay, the rocket is released. Pyongyang declares the mission a success.

January 2013, North Korea announced it is planning a new nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches, all of which it says are part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States. The threats come two days after the UN Security Council approves the broadening of sanctions.
http://www.news.com.au/national-news/ev ... 6612720574

Nuclear weopons --> Testing --> Missles --> Testing --> Satellite --> Testing ---
In the middle of all the military progress there are threats, negotiations, intense indoctrination of the North Korean people against South Korea and the US, rumors of embassies to sell meth and make a quota. Look at Kim's teeth in pictures closely, is his cigarettes laced with meth? lol If North Korea doesn't fall like the Soviet Union there are very few options left, and it seems they are exercising them.

And in this hype, Kim may not be the real leader of North Korea. In a society that gives a lot of respect to elders, it is speculated his aunt and uncle make up North Korean power.

...many analysts believe the real powers behind-the-scenes are Kim's aunt and uncle.Among Kim's small inner circle the most influential, often referred to as the "first family," are Kim's aunt Kim Kyong-Hui and her husband Jang Sung-Taek, both 66. The power couple were reportedly anointed by late-Kim Jong Il to help his 30 year-old son consolidate his position as the new figurehead and control the 1.2 million member military.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/nor ... V9OunD3Bdg

If the power is retained in individuals unknown to the US and it's allies, that leaves questions as to what the North Korean ruling elite sees its role on the world stage.


The United States pursuit to deterrence may provide some wiggle room for China in negotiations with the US. Take the example of Taiwan:

During much of the 2000s, tensions between Taiwan and China roiled the stability of East Asia. Each side feared the intentions of the other and acted on those fears, creating a vicious circle of political mistrust and military build-up. The United States was drawn in because Beijing and Taipei each urged Washington to take its side against the other. Some strategists believed that Taiwan was the only issue that might spark a U.S.-China war. Over the last five years, the relationship between China and Taiwan has changed for the better, with cooperation replacing confrontation, and the danger of war declining. However, future momentum will likely slow, and China has not abandoned its goal of unifying with Taiwan on its terms. Will it be content to continue its current, incremental approach? What will happen if it doesn’t? What can Taiwan, China and the United States do to ensure that the current stability will continue?
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2013/02/06-china-taiwan

The result of the on-going hype, do the American people want to live with a space based North Korea?

If Kim is seeking greater economic opportunities, do we want to make his regime more prosperous?

How does this fit in or distract with the Iran-Israel conflict? (Axis of evil)

Historians believe that is it WWII that got us out of the last great depression, it is possible the power brokers would allow a pearl harbor type event in the Pacific or on US mainland:

...how World War II got us out of the Depression is generally ignored -- even though it provides a lesson at odds with the accepted interpretation.

The war did provide a unique demand for entirely new industries. While airplanes had only been incidentally important in World War I, it was believed that they would be decisive in the 1940s. The problem, for the U.S. military, was that it had only a few planes, and fewer resources to construct them with. The government couldn't simply go to the market and buy some planes; it had to create the market. And it did.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-1 ... choes.html

[Royal]

Cold war psyop, possible entrance into the Israel and Iran war?

Since the 1980s North Korea has become known as a reliable supplier of arms to other countries including Iran. Weapons sales between North Korea and Iran increased significantly during the Iran-Iraq war.[8] This weapons sale relationship has expanded into further military cooperation including in the development of and exchange of nuclear technology. This relationship has also involved Syria.[9][10]

During the Persian Gulf War North Korea is said to have supplied Iran with a range of arms including artillery, anti-aircraft machine guns, mortars, ammunition, tanks, small arms, naval mines and anti-tank and surface-to-air missile systems.[11] In December 2009, in contravention of an arms embargo imposed on North Korea, a shipment of North Korean arms, said to be headed for Iran, according to the Congressional Research Service, was intercepted in Thailand.[12][13] These weapons included rocket launchers and surface-to-air missile parts.[12]

In addition to weapons, North Korea and Iran have an active exchange of military expertise particularly in relation to special operations and underground facilities.[9] North Korea is thought to have trained Iranian operators in these advanced infiltration techniques.[9]
In March 2013 North Korea and Iran, as well as Syria, blocked a UN Arms Trade Treaty[14] aimed at setting "standards for all cross-border transfers of conventional weapons"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–North_Korea_relations

[Royal]

[Pigeon]

Let's hope people like those running the us government continue to give Iran a chance. This change has been mentioned to quite a while but as always it takes time.

Could be our government is afraid of what people here might learn from Iran.

[Royal]

Let's hope people like those running the us government continue to give Iran a chance. This change has been mentioned to quite a while but as always it takes time.

Could be our government is afraid of what people here might learn from Iran.

Nuclear power costs 5 cents a month from each home?

[Pigeon]

That young Iranians want a different leadership and way of life.