posted on Apr, 9 2013 @ 06:06 AM
These subs are old fashioned diesel electric type. While it is wrong to ever say they are of no significance, I would be surprised if the US isn't
already tracking these supposed missing subs. Unlike nuclear, they have to break the surface for comms & battery recharge also to take on supplies.
The mini subs are possibly a more "active threat" as these can be harder to detect and one can never rule out a suicide style attack with these.
Things seem to be quieting down, relatively speaking, as things return to sabre rattling. The leak of a future NK nuclear test is no doubt to show the
world that they have weapons grade material to spare as they wouldn't conduct a test if it was needed for a device.
My understanding is that there is no payload that would fit on any of their reliable launch and delivery systems, however their tunnels under SK would
give me cause for concern as, similar to the allies in the first world war, a tunnel could be used to deliver the payload to an area and a detonation
could then devastate that part of SK.
I don think that there is a power battle internally within NK with Kim perhaps having to prove he isn't a westerner at heart. This is in no one's
interest at present, not NK, not China, and not US. The only outside player that I can see that may gain is Putin's Russia, as this creates tension
between allies (China & NK), could show the US in a bad light (though I don't think the US have done anything overtly intentionally in this
case.).
If the Russians become the main mediators then I think my suspicions would be confirmed. All this coming on the back of the recent Russia/China
meeting is curious too, it could also be that someone is playing China and its new leader to see how strong they are.
Communism has changed radically over the past 30 years, Capitalism has also been shown to be a system wide open to corruption and manipulation.
As a people, none of us want a war, and certainly those calling for "nukes", while perhaps well intentioned, should be aware of how this can be used
for propaganda by those looking to inflame the situation.
The art of diplomacy is to never back an adversary into a corner (unless that is your aim), there must always be a get out where both sides can turn
away from the brink with integrity seemingly intact.
Kim will have built strong relationships during his time in the west, these should be exploited. A way to integrate NK back into the world must be
found. The people are suffering because of the regime, NK are trying to change, we need to bring them onboard and help support that change, however
China and Russia will be suspicious of anything the west do to speed this change along. To be honest, with the mess capitalism has made of the world
in the last ten years, NK would be crazy to just adopt the western way.
This next part is purely thinking outloud, and in no way represents a strict thought out process - just ideas...
Perhaps the Korean peninsula is an opportunity for the west and east to create a harmonious system, a test bed to create a better world. A third Korea
could be created with a couple of new cities for the 21st century created from scratch. Populated by people from NK and SK, with an experimental forum
as a government to look at what really works from the North and the South. create real social structure, support and inclusion, free trade with the
world, and a true free market economy, but with penalties for overtly profiteering companies.
Both countries contain great honest and hard working people, there is much we can all learn from how these countries whose people are identical just
separated by a man made divide of fences and political ideology.
If it does come down to a war, then we have all failed, war just shows how little progress we have really made in the last 2000 years. There are times
were a stand must be made and war is unavoidable, however IMO war must be seen as a last resort. The west (US and its allies Nato etc), must start
being seen to be fair and just, it does appear that they only intervene with countries that are basically third world or have very low tech defence's
(usually out of date tech sold by the west/China/Russia).