North Korea in leadership reshuffle, Choe Yong-rim has replaced Kim Yong

SugarHigh

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10252477.stm

I think this was expected by some people, N.Korea normally starts trouble before a new premier is appointed. Will be interesting to see what the new guy is like.

That_Guy

Wonder if they'll be allowed to watch the World Cup now.

galwayrush

hmm, what comic book hero will he think he is.:rolleyes:

tony1kenobi

Outgoing Yong should make Yong Rim job nicer.

winston82

my mate knows him, says he's sound.

thetonynator

Fúcking communists.

Not sure why, but **** communists anyway.

That_Guy

winston82 wrote: »

my mate knows him, says he's sound.

Some promotion from the local Korean take away.

KevinVonSpiel

Fantastic name, this Choe Yong-rim... however, nothing compared to the current Chief of Defence Staff in the UK.

That_Guy

KevinVonSpiel wrote: »

Fantastic name, this Choe Yong-rim... however, nothing compared to the current Chief of Defence Staff in the UK.

That picture. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

m@cc@

SugarHigh wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10252477.stm

I think this was expected by some people, N.Korea normally starts trouble before a new premier is appointed. Will be interesting to see what the new guy is like.

Means little on it's own, Kim Jong-il is still Supreme Leader and National Defence Commisioner.

Mrmoe

This could be good news. Hopefully he is not as crazy as his predecessor.

Pauleta

That_Guy wrote: »

Wonder if they'll be allowed to watch the World Cup now.

Ive got a sneaky feeling those matches will be ending up 0-0

mikom

SugarHigh wrote: »

N.Korea normally starts trouble before a new premier is appointed.

How do you solve a problem like Korea?

That_Guy

mikom wrote: »

How do you solve a problem like Korea?

MOAR PYTHAGARUS!!!!

Wouldn't that be a brilliant question in the Leaving Cert.

FearDark

Rim...

har har...

m@cc@

KevinVonSpiel wrote: »

Fantastic name, this Choe Yong-rim... however, nothing compared to the current Chief of Defence Staff in the UK.

I always liked the name of a former Tánaiste:

[URL=]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Spring[/URL]

That_Guy

m@cc@ wrote: »

I always liked the name of a former Tánaiste:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Spring

Server Not Found.... Some name alright.

OutlawPete

Turkish reshuffle also by the looks of it today ...

That_Guy

OutlawPete wrote: »

China reshuffle also by the looks of it today ...

That picture is disturbing. Damn you Pete.

m@cc@

OutlawPete wrote: »

China reshuffle also by the looks of it today ...

By the looks of those flags, it looks like Turkey is occuping it as well. :P

Biggins

Sadly, I can't see much changing.
These guys when they reach that level, only do so because they share the exact same thoughts as their predecessors.
Otherwise they would have quietly disappeared off the scene long ago.

General Zod

This actually does mean something.

The sinking of the South Korean ship was a reminder to the military that Kim Jong-il is still in charge, and the promotion of the guy today was to ensure that the dynasty stays in charge of Korea when Kim steps back/dies.

If there is any confusion in the leadership structure, any at all when Kim shifts his mortal coil, there's a good chance of there being a military coup, which might actually be worse than the current Cult of Personality style of dictatorship.

BTW Communism in north Korea is simply a tool for the Kim dynasty/military to maintain control over the populace, similar to how it is in China, however China lost the personality dictatorship aspect of it a long time ago.

Agent Smith

North Korea,

Possiably a even bigger hole then Ireland

billy the squid

read chloe Young Rim and came for the pictures.

PeterIanStaker

Pauleta wrote: »

Ive got a sneaky feeling those matches will be ending up 0-0

I wouldn't like to be a North Korean player who missed a penalty or something.

piby

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

I wouldn't like to be a North Korean player who missed a penalty or something.

He'd probably be sent for 're-education'

bonerm

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

I wouldn't like to be a North Korean player who missed a penalty or something.

Wouldn't worry about it. That would involve getting the ball into the opposition box first.

Twilightning

The one place on Earth that deserves to be nuked off the face of the planet more than Limerick.

Biggins

Twilightning wrote: »

The one place on Earth that deserves to be nuked off the face of the planet more than Limerick.

....Aaa ok!

mikom

Twilightning wrote: »

The one place on Earth that deserves to be nuked off the face of the planet more than Limerick.

A shocking statement...... I would have said Dublin.

My name is URL

Interesting video from Newsnight last week, a BBC journalist inside North Korea.. well worth watching

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8701959.stm?ref=d

Raedwald

A key move by Kim Jong-Il in the last few days.

Its all part of his strategy to ensure his youngest son takes complete control when he dies/step backs in the next couple of years.

The New York Times had an interesting piece a couple of weeks ago about how the sinking of the South Korean ship was linked to a decision by Kim to give his heir a powerful military position, and that the sinking was a key part of this by showing their military strength.

Also their recents announcements that they have full nuclear capabilties is also part of this show of power to ensure the continuation of the Kim dynasty.

Biggins

A small reminder of how mad their thinking is: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/kim-jongil-bans-world-cup-coverage--unless-north-korea-win-1953046.html

admiralofthefleet

That_Guy wrote: »

Wonder if they'll be allowed to watch the World Cup now.

no point, they've already won it...

Raedwald

Its mad like the coach has publicly stated that anything less then last 8 would be a failure.

Going by their recent friendly results in any other group they would be a challenge but given the group their in I would expect 3 comfortable wins for the opposition.

Biggins

Raedwald wrote: »

...The New York Times had an interesting piece a couple of weeks ago about how the sinking of the South Korean ship was linked to a decision by Kim to give his heir a powerful military position, and that the sinking was a key part of this by showing their military strength.

Read that article. It was very good and informative.
In a similar vein, here is an earlier one: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/world/asia/28north.html

* http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1991612,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0p1YpNilB
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8701959.stm
* http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1991612,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0p1YpNilB
* http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41966-2003Oct3?language=printer

They really are living in a time warp.

Raedwald

Yep read that as well, both very good.

Something I felt was inevitably going to happen. Suppose we should be glad thats all it was and not the North wanting to go back to war.

Would of put America and China and their relationship in a very tricky position given they currently back opposing sides.

Biggins

I think one of the shocking facts to emerge was that China hands back to the North Korean authorities, those that have managed to escape.

Given that its know the North Koreans carry out chemical experiments on their prisoners, if the poor sods survive, they do so for ever in a hell of pain!
(See for example, paragraph titled "Not A Human Existence": here)

Shocking stuff.

OutlawPete

You know, people can be as judgmental about North Korea if they like but they have a complex history, just like all countries.

I realise that their human rights problems are abysmal but what happened in that part of the world at the end of WWII and since, was also abysmal.

They watched as the US dropped two Atomic bombs on Japan that wiped out hundreds of thousands of people in those two split seconds, just to try and impress the soviet union.

Is it any wonder that they refused to participate in what the UN wanted back then. They fought their civil war and I actually have respect for them as an independent country.

Both North and South Korea have been used throughout history as pawns in a game of Chess between the US and the Russa.

Democratic country's leaders can label North Korea an "axis of evil" as much as they want, but lets not forget, that the US brought death on destruction on a gigantic scale to their allies and so they should be forgiven for not exactly wanting to play bosom buddies with the US after WWII and ever since.

Biggins

OutlawPete wrote: »

You know, people can be as judgmental about North Korea if they like but they have a complex history, just like all countries.

I realise that their human rights problems are abysmal but what happened in that part of the world at the end of WWII and since, was also abysmal.

They watched as the US dropped two Atomic bombs on Japan that wiped out hundreds of thousands of people in those two split seconds, just to try and impress the soviet union.

Is it any wonder that they refused to participate in what the UN wanted back then. They fought their civil war and I actually have respect for them as an independent country.

Both North and South Korea have been used throughout history as pawns in a game of Chess between the US and the Russa.

Democratic country's leaders can label North Korea an "axis of evil" as much as they want, but lets not forget, that the US brought death on destruction on a gigantic scale to their allies and so they should be forgiven for not exactly wanting to play bosom buddies with the US after WWII and ever since.

All true but there is also the aspect that they are cutting their nose off to spite their face.

In other words, if North Korea want to take an attitude of "stuff the evil USA" then they shouldn't also over-reach and cut themselves off from lesser aligned (with the states) countries that are still modern and could be of help to them. How many few countries are they friendly with? (Genuine question.)

SugarHigh

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10263325.stm

China says a North Korean border guard shot and killed three people near the countries' border last week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news conference in Beijing that the four residents of Dandong, in Liaoning province, had been shot "on suspicion of crossing the border for trade activities".

"China attaches great importance to that and has immediately raised a solemn representation with the DPRK," he said, using North Korea's full name (Democratic People's Republic of Korea).

OutlawPete

Biggins wrote: »

All true but there is also the aspect that they are cutting their nose off to spite their face.

I agree, but it is understandable on some level.

I seen a docu a few years back where the government allowed in Eye Surgeons and they recorded these doctors giving eye sight back to people that had lost it due to cataracts and the like, all very easily rectifiable.

They have been near famine at times, so I do see the attitude of 'come on out of the dark ages' being an apt one, but it is all a little sanctimonious to criticize them over testing nuclear weapons when you take into account who it is who is actually criticizing them.

Biggins wrote: »

In other words, if North Korea want to take an attitude of "stuff the evil USA" then they shouldn't also over-reach and cut themselves off from lesser aligned (with the states) countries that are still modern and could be of help to them. How many few countries are they friendly with? (Genuine question.)

Well, none - as they have an isolation policy.

Of course, without support from China and South Korea they would fall apart but they still seem convinced they can make it alone.

Biggins

OutlawPete wrote: »

...it is all a little sanctimonious to criticize them over testing nuclear weapons when you take into account who it is who is actually criticizing them...

True.
As are a lot of the other things you mention.

In all, its just a pity, they are partly if not wholly, responsible for the present conditions within their own state.
Then again, their section leaders are living too within their own isolated world too, even within the state.

JONJO THE MISER

And News Just in now http://news.ie.msn.com/world/article.aspx?cp-documentid=153691088.
This could be bad for North Korea as China are one of there bigest Allies.

Biggins

SugarHigh wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10263325.stm

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

And News Just in now http://news.ie.msn.com/world/article.aspx?cp-documentid=153691088.
This could be bad for North Korea as China are one of there bigest Allies.

They will probably place the full blame on the soldier who did the shooting, deny any pre-existing orders (if necessary) and China will do bugger all after that for well known reasons.

Thomas828

So Choi Yong-Rim replaces Kim Yong. Goodbye, Tweedledum, hello, Tweedledee.

Raedwald

Yes it is ironic that the country that criticizes the North Koreans most is America, the country with the worlds biggest weapons arsenal and god only knows how many nuclear weapons and for the moment the worlds only superpower.

American criticism of North Korean nuclear weapons programmes, acutally any countries nuclear weapons programmes always ends up coming off as " only we are allowed nuclear weapons and we only allow other countries in the world nuclear weapons because grudgingly we cannot control them".

The country is very interesting to study and try comprehend, yes it has been screwed over by the international community specially after WW II and america should not of gotten involved in its civil war. But it has also put itself in this position through its isolation policies and the beliefs of a few mad man who control the whole country and its people and have done for the last sixty years.

Nadurlann

If North Korea are put out of the world cup, are we in with a chance.:D

ballsymchugh

Raedwald wrote: »

The country is very interesting to study and try comprehend, yes it has been screwed over by the international community specially after WW II and america should not of gotten involved in its civil war. But it has also put itself in this position through its isolation policies and the beliefs of a few mad man who control the whole country and its people and have done for the last sixty years.

it has been screwed over, but most of it is it's own making. kim il sung was a soviet puppet that fell out with stalin back in the day and then he came up with his own juche ideal which made the north koreans think they could do things on their own. now after a serious famine a few years ago, most of the food in the country is brought in by the world food program. the public transport is made up of trams the like that would've been seen in dublin around the easter rising, the roads are deserted and falling apart, and the only images on display are propaganda on the wisdom of the eternal president and the might of the worker's party. most north koreans won't even know who or what this new guy is.

whoever kim jong il puts in charge, kim il sung will always be the president...

Capt'n Midnight

OutlawPete wrote: »

You know, people can be as judgmental about North Korea if they like but they have a complex history, just like all countries.

I realise that their human rights problems are abysmal but what happened in that part of the world at the end of WWII and since, was also abysmal.

They watched as the US dropped two Atomic bombs on Japan that wiped out hundreds of thousands of people in those two split seconds, just to try and impress the soviet union.

Is it any wonder that they refused to participate in what the UN wanted back then. They fought their civil war and I actually have respect for them as an independent country.

Both North and South Korea have been used throughout history as pawns in a game of Chess between the US and the Russa.

Democratic country's leaders can label North Korea an "axis of evil" as much as they want, but lets not forget, that the US brought death on destruction on a gigantic scale to their allies and so they should be forgiven for not exactly wanting to play bosom buddies with the US after WWII and ever since.

Eh are you forgetting the whole Chosen thing with Japan. And the involvement of China.

Perhaps the atomic bombs were to impress the Russians, but the Russians did impress the yanks with August Storm

m@cc@

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Eh are you forgetting the whole Chosen thing with Japan. And the involvement of China.

I was thinking the same thing.