**The "North Korea Watch 2013" Update Thread**

I dunno. I still think that earthquake was a bit too much of a coincidence. I think we may see a sort of American draw where both sides back down.

What's the earthquake in Russia got to do with North Korea. I confess that I immediately latched onto the earthquake and became suspicious - but that was just me; if the article had said "5.2 earthquake measured in Russia" instead of "5.2 earthquake near North Korea and China", then I doubt I would have paid any attention to it. There was also a similar scale earthquake on the same day, but in Northern Siberia.

Now I don't see how an earthquake in a neighbouring country has anything to do with North Korea.

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern on Monday about the escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and said conflict there could cause greater devastation than the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

"I would make no secret about it, we are worried about the escalation on the Korean peninsula, because we are neighbours," Putin told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to a trade fair in Germany.

"And if, God forbid, something happens, Chernobyl which we all know a lot about, may seem like a child's fairy tale. Is there such a threat or not? I think there is... I would urge everyone to calm down... and start to resolve the problems that have piled up for many years there at the negotiating table."

Putin also praised a U.S. decision at the weekend to postpone a planned missile test as part of efforts to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula.

"I think we should all thank the U.S. leadership for this step. I hope it will be noticed by our North Korean partners, that certain conclusions will be drawn, everyone will calm down and start joint work to ease the situation." (Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk, writing by Gareth Jones, editing by Noah Barkin)

RT
Telling the truth

BBC announcing that the North has temporarily shut Kaesong, the industrial zone on the border run by the South but employing 50,000+ North Koreans.
An unusual step, seeing as it earns millions of dollars-worth of currency for the North.

China may be going to pick up the slack. There's obviously joint planning going on.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2013/04/07/china-helped-north-korea-target-american-cities/

This says that China has been mobilising forces to the border since mid last month so there's clearly joint planning happening. The Chinese must have actually been sending the forces as they were agreeing to the sanctions which the media then portrayed as them finally getting pissed off with NK.

It's interesting that the media is trying to play down the animosity between nations. Perhaps to quell potential "Hang on a minute I'm studying mandarin and like the Chinese. Who exactly are you, the "free press" who elects our governments and tell us that China should have a free press (owned by you) too and that aggression is just in the name of "freedom" supposed to be representing anyway?"

There's a yes and no element to all that. Yes it's in China's interest to keep the 'buffer' between themselves and a US ally, especially at a time when it's looking to develop it's strength in Asia, but North Korea won't be as easily manipulated as other states on the Chinese border. The cult of personality in NK is too strong for that, so either China has to be very careful and delicate with their handling of it all, or it could all blow up in their faces - literally.

So, while there may be truth to them coordinating their actions, there's also no doubt an element of truth in the fact that they have to be ready in case that fails. Plan A is fine. But it means nothing if you then don't have a Plan B or Plan C.

Personally I think playing down China's backing does NK pr a world of good. It creates this image of a plucky little country defiantly taking on the rest of the world. Rest of the world threatens it and they threaten it right back. They aren't sitting round a table where the rest of the world has more seats than them. Why the **** should they? Who does the rest of the world think it is anyway? And now we're told that they're preparing more tests while America cancels theirs. The mouse that roared, and the lion that ran away.

This is of course complete nonsense and they are backed strongly by China and have a "partner" in Russia. But it really confuses me why the media does this. Far better to paint the enemy as a behemoth. The combined might of Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran etc. At least then whatever happens you look better.

The past few weeks have seen North Korea become increasingly belligerent toward the United States and South Korea, with Pyongyang threatening to "mercilessly strike" its enemies. But is the country able to back up its threats? Realistically, who's at risk of attack and where?

While experts believe North Korea does not currently have the capability to arm a missile with a nuclear warhead, the tabs below outline some of the known conventional weaponry in North Korea's arsenal. Click a name for details, and estimated strike ranges from Pyongyang.

[CLICK LINK ABOVE FOR INTERACTIVE MAP]

You're up early, I take it NK is still being angsty?

Yep, they've ratcheted it up to one of the highest levels - i.e. the Kaesong complex still remains closed; which is very serious because it's a highly highly lucrative source of income for North Korea, while being not so much for the South. Analysts say that NK would only close the complex if they really meant business - because it's closure is effectively a cutting off of one's hand. NK's basically losing a hell of a lot of income from the closure - not exactly intelligent unless they mean business.

Anyway, April 10th is tomorrow, with April 15th ever approaching - I do hope it's just rhetoric, even if at one of the highest levels. NK must surely know it won't win or succeed - and the hordes of Chinese troops massed on its borders are still of questionable motive...