Hard Times for N. Korea

[Anodizer]

Europe is not in the "west" anymore? Strange. The whole of Europe, including European Russia (west of the Urals) used to be called the "West" and Asia was called the "East". What was in the middle? Why the Middle-East of course!

(Image removed from quote.)


I'd call that "en masse".

Through out the Cold-War, anything east of the Iron Curtain was considered the East...   
Last time....  You talking nothing more than Semantics..  And what you saying is completely off the subject..

Does this really need to be explained??  Soviet propaganda constantly referred to The US and Western Europe as "The West"..
Likewise, Eastern Europe (under Soviet "influence"), the Soviet Union, China, etc, was referred to as "The East"..
Amazing that someone such as yourself needs this explained.. 

[Anodizer]

Stalin was born and lived in the "west".

If you want to get technical, he was born and lived in the Eastern Hemisphere..  This is really going no where..
I don't know why I waste my time..  You are intent on not recognizing basic history and historical nomenclature..

[Die Hard]

You asked:

Please explain how the idea for North Korea's government originated in the West...
I'm quite curious how you came to this conclusion..

You shouldn't ask questions if you don't want the answer.



Almost all of Europe is in the Eastern Hemisphere, but it is still in the Western World, including Eastern Europe. So is the Eastern United States if you were wondering.

When Anaxogoras said the idea originated in the West he obviously didn't mean the geopolitical "west" of the Cold War, but that Communism was a Western Philosophy, as distinct from Eastern (Oriental) philosophies.

I don't find it at all amazing that someone such as yourself needs this explained. Keep asking questions; that's how you learn.

[Ack-Ack]

Through out the Cold-War, anything east of the Iron Curtain was considered the East...   
Last time....  You talking nothing more than Semantics..  And what you saying is completely off the subject..

Does this really need to be explained??  Soviet propaganda constantly referred to The US and Western Europe as "The West"..
Likewise, Eastern Europe (under Soviet "influence"), the Soviet Union, China, etc, was referred to as "The East"..
Amazing that someone such as yourself needs this explained.. 

Eastern Bloc countries was the common term for the European countries that were under the Soviet banner.


ack-ack

[Die Hard]

Turkey, and in particular Istanbul is called "the gateway to the (Middle) East" since it resides on both the European and Asian continents. Russia also has real estate on both continents, but 70-90% of the population lives in the European part west of the Ural mountains (where Europe and Asia merge). Europe, and often North Africa, is considered in the Western World or the Occident (sunset in Latin), as distinct from the Eastern World or the Orient (sunrise). The Americas and Australia are also considered parts of the Western World. The distinction is cultural, not geographical or political.

[Plawranc]

Well I see it this way.

North Korea is behaving aggressively because of its huge supporter China, but now China is realising their pet has gotten off its leash and now they are denouncing them. Why not invade and take back control? I'm sure the US and all its firepower would enjoy the help while this Iraq debacle continues. No the Chinese are Either

A. Secretly supporting the NK forces in their anti US stance OR

B. Are really PO'ed but won't do stuff all because even if the NK nuclear program is primitive it is confirmed that they have nuclear weapons, as crappy as these may be they are WELL within range of China and in turn the Chinese are scared shiczeless.

Either the peoples republic of North Korea will collapse and we will enter to establish order and democracy ( If we beat the Chinese to the punch) or they will start WW3 and commit suicide.

Now we have backed the SKs to the hilt and have armed them with every possible means at our disposal not to mention our own task forces in the area so its unlikely that the NKs will invade unless of course out of desperation. The UN cannot do anything besides impose embargo's and the like, this is FORCING us into war and they must know it. NK relies on trade for its food, without it they are sunk and they know it, food  ,oil and rawmaterials, all things NK has to trade for to get. this in turn will force them to invade SK to seize our assets and start a war involving us and possibly China and the Russian federation, I don't think china will let their favourite minion die.
To sum up NK will almost certainly start a war if we continue on the path we are following
I just that it does not come to that

[Tac]

"this in turn will force them to invade SK to seize our assets and start a war"

NK will not gain any food or oil or any raw materials by invading. They know this that is why their only tool is the fact that they can DESTROY any city just south of the DMZ (aka, Seoul) in 30 seconds. They cannot mass their troops without it being seen by satellites and they know that any military venture south of the DMZ will be met by a very modern and very determined SK army with the backing of the US and the UN (which literally surrounds NK via china, japan and sea routes). 

"involving us and possibly China and the Russian federation, I don't think china will let their favourite minion die."

I think they will be very glad to let them die. In fact, my best guess is they'll present them on a silver platter and do their darndest to grab a piece of the spoils for themselves. China is no longer Maoist china with the Russian bear poking their rear ends... the sheer amount of money that passes between china and the western world far overwhelms any advantage NK provides them with.

Obviously the Chinese would hate it to come to a shooting war because they know that it would only end up with a Korea that is democratic and pro-west so its in their best interest to play the card of 'concerned neighbor' they have been playing so far and have NK slowly change into a caricature of China's gov/economy : Communist but prospering.