The Peace Olympics and The Road To War

Neither North Korea nor The USA are taking the current lull in provocations, to allow the Olympics to take place, seriously.

The North will hold a massive military parade on the 8th of February (the day before the Winter Olympics are opened)designed to scare the shit out of everyone.

#breaking #exclusive Diplomatic sources tell @CNN North Korea is planning to show off dozens of long-range missiles next week to “scare the hell out of the Americans.” https://t.co/glJqq5YcYI

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 31, 2018

Meanwhile the USA has just pulled its much touted choice for ambassador to South Korea, Victor Cha. The announcement took many by surprise, as Cha had passed all the security clearances and had been nodded in by the South.

Why was he booted from the role?

It seems that despite being regarded by many as a hawk, when he was asked if he would manage the evacuation of American citizens from South Korea he balked at the idea of the much touted "bloody nose" attack on the North.

I shall leave you all ponder the question who will evacuate the South Koreans from the South and the Japanese from Japan, in the event that things get out of hand.

However, be in no doubt, if the Olympics do take place without incident there is going to be one hell of a punch up afterwards. That is, sadly, very clear!



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North Korea Never Misses an Opportunity To Miss an Opportunity

North Korea has cancelled a joint cultural performance with South Korea scheduled for Feb. 4 blaming South Korean media for encouraging “insulting” public sentiment regarding the North.

Reuters reports that the North said it had no choice but to call off the performance, which was to be held in the North Korean territory of Mount Kumgang, as South Korean media continued to insult what Pyongyang called “sincere” measures regarding the Winter Olympics Seoul will host next month. 

Whilst it is likely that the main reason for cancellation is the North's infamous "prickliness", another reason may also be the flu outbreak that is raging in the North. It's health service will be unable to cope with a large scale outbreak, and during previous occasions of disease in AP eg SARS the North has sometimes shut its borders.

That being said, whatever the real reason of cancellation, the old adage:

"North Korea never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity"

springs to mind!

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Naughty Reuters Ruins Olympic Flame Test

Korea Times front page: Reuters ruined the opening ceremony fun! pic.twitter.com/Mf6PltbNka

— Sam Kim (@samkimasia) January 30, 2018

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North Koreans Won't Get Galaxy Note 8 - Sanctions Bite?

NK News reports that North Korean athletes involved in the upcoming Pyeongchang Olympics will not receive a free Samsung Galaxy Note 8 for their participation.

The smartphone, which is being given to all other participants in the games, will not be gifted to the athletes to avoid violating international sanctions against Pyongyang, the Ministry of Unification said.

There are of course other sanctions issues that are yet to be clarified, eg the North Korean ski resort where South Koreans will train seemingly has equipment that was imported in violation of sanctions. Additionally, who will be paying for the North Korean delegation (several hundred people) when they are in the South?


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Kim is Out of Cash

Two Chinese sources with connections to North Korea’s ruling elite told RFA’s Korean Service Wednesday that Kim—now in his seventh year of leading the North—has nearly exhausted the slush fund he inherited from his predecessor and no longer has enough money to govern the country.

— Strategic Sentinel (@StratSentinel) January 26, 2018

It would seem that Kim may well have run out of cash.

It is not surprising that he has run out of cash, as attempting to push for economic growth and increase military expenditure at the same time is simply not possible in an economy as weak and pathetic as North Korea. The Soviet Union was brought to its knees by trying to achieve those two goals.

That being the case that Kim has run out of cash, the sudden enthusiasm for the Olympics is doubtless geared to finding ways and means to raise more cash.

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Pence Warns of Olympics Highjack

Mike Pence, via spokesman: N. Korea, "master manipulators" and a "murderous state," is trying to "hijack" the Pyeongchang Olympics with the "charade" of "two weeks of propaganda."https://t.co/brMywcO3IQ

— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) January 26, 2018

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All Smiles at The Olympics

More photos of the inter-Korean women's ice hockey team getting along swimmingly, courtesy of the Ministry of Unification. pic.twitter.com/xLihbbbZxD

— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) January 26, 2018

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North Korean Women's Ice Hockey Team Arrives

North Korea’s women’s ice hockey team has arrived in South Korea. 15 members of North Korea’s national women’s ice hockey team - including 12 players, 1 coach & 2 support personnel - will compete alongside South Korean counterparts in the 2018 Pyeonchang Winter Olympics.

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 25, 2018

North Korea's female ice hockey team uses Bauer. But current UN and U.S. sanctions make it illegal for it to import sports equipment, though, especially from the U.S. – yep, that's where we are with sanctions and sports. pic.twitter.com/sNr8PmPXr1

— Chad O'Carroll (@chadocl) January 25, 2018

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Abe Coming To The Games To Talk Sex

This should go well pic.twitter.com/SaAzUNlNLp

— John Delury (@JohnDelury) January 25, 2018

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Olympics Poll

Do you think that North Korea will actually attend the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang?

— Ken Frost (@ken_frost) January 23, 2018

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We’re Gonna Foreclose This Risk

CIA Boss Gives Latest Indication Trump Is Considering Preemptive Strike on North Korea https://t.co/gFnvQO98AT

— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) January 23, 2018

Before or after the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang?

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Welcome To The Peace Olympics!

North Korea declares February 8 to be the army's founding anniversary and says it will "significantly mark" the occasion, just a day before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics

— BNO News (@BNONews) January 23, 2018

As I have noted before on this site, North Korea have totally stolen South Korea's thunder wrt the Olympics.

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Excuses Being Harvested

KCNA: "We warn once again the south Korean conservative media persons that the north-south relationship may be disrupted though it took the first good step and an unpredictable incident may occur due to misrepresentation made by them."

— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) January 23, 2018

Excuses are being harvested so that toys may be thrown out of the pram.

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The True Olympic Spirit!

Good to see people getting into the spirit of the Peace Olympics! https://t.co/tC0U4rRNbT

— John Delury (@JohnDelury) January 22, 2018

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Hyon Song-wol - Doesn't She Look Well?

Hyon Song-wol looking remarkably well for someone who was "executed"! Which goes to show many of the reports about North Korea are bollocks! pic.twitter.com/mCcovzpBd3

— Ken Frost (@ken_frost) January 21, 2018

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Military Build Up Continues According To This Thread

Continued assembling of military assets taking place in Guam: 3 B-1 stealth bombers arrived 2 weeks ago but 6 B-52 bombers arrive on Jan 16 & 2 more B-52s arrived on Jan 18 (all deemed to be nuke-capable). Plus USS Carl Vinson expected in early Februaryhttps://t.co/uEUt1gUdrI pic.twitter.com/cbqbj8Ucwn

— Noon in Korea (@NoonInKorea) January 22, 2018

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The Logistics of The North/South Olympics

This thread is well worth reading. https://t.co/kQLDCrM750

— Ken Frost (@ken_frost) January 19, 2018

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South Korea Not As Stupid As The USA Would Have Us Believe

#SouthKorea's defense authority has assessed that #NorthKorea's intentions behind PyeongChang outreach is to drive a crack into the U.S.-South Korean relationship. https://t.co/QQpQqHgT4N

— Strategic Sentinel (@StratSentinel) January 19, 2018

There are two glaring ironies within this current lull in inter Korean hostilities:

1 North Korea has effectively stolen the Olympics show from the South.

2 The USA and its various media/social network/"expert" mouthpieces are pushing the narrative that peace is dangerous for the ROK/USA alliance.

Funny old world isn't it?

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The Flag of Unity or Flag of Disunity?

Yeah. Like me. That is NOT my goddamned flag. I did NOT salute that rag while I was in the ROK Army. It is not the flag that draped over the coffins of those 46 sailors of the ROKS Cheonan that those bastards murdered.

I repeat. That is NOT my goddamned flag. https://t.co/wEnSrepvbM

— John Lee (The Korean Foreigner) (@koreanforeigner) January 17, 2018

Not everyone is delighted at the choice of flag!

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North Korea Steals The Show!

Quite a few "deliverables" have been announced by North and South Korea wrt the forthcoming winter Olympics:

- North and South will march under a unified Korean flag at next month’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics opening ceremony

- They will form a single South-North women’s ice hockey team (subject to howls of protest from ROK residents)

- North Korea will send a 230-member cheering squad to attend the games.

- A Taekwondo demonstration team will travel to the South on the 7th.

- The North and South will carry out joint training of the South and North Korean skiers at Masikryong ski resort built by Kim in 2013 in the North.

- The North will send a 150-member delegation to PyeongChang Winter Paralympics in March.

It has taken South Korea (ROK) ten years of hard work and planning to bring the Games to fruition, and North Korea only a matter of days to steal the whole show! 

Kim is currently punching way above his weight (and he isn't exactly skinny) wrt the Olympics and the stand off with the USA; let us trust and assume that hubris does not lead to a fatal error that will cost the lives of millions!


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Not So Unified!

Online petitions calling on presidential office to withdraw plan to field unified Korean women #hockey team at #PyeongchangWinterOlympics have collected over 30,000 signatures as of Thurs evening. pic.twitter.com/rq1J7raN3w

— LIM Yun Suk (@yunsukCNA) January 18, 2018

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North Korea To Celebrate The "Peace" Olympics With Military Parade

Big news: NKorea may hold military parade on eve of Winter 'Peace' Olympics.

Great chance for DPRK to showcase new ICBMs on global stage while participating in Winter games just one day later.

Format yet to be realized, but worth keeping tabs on:https://t.co/wpU8vZwheg

— Chad O'Carroll (@chadocl) January 17, 2018

I would normally say "how ironic". However, North Korea doesn't do "irony"!

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North Korea's Diversion Tactic

Japan, South Korea and US all agree that talks with North & South Korea are a diversion tactic by North Korea. President Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, secretly traveled to San Francisco over the weekend to discuss North Korea with Japan and South Korea.

— InsideNK (@inside_nk) January 16, 2018

The diversion has been effectively kyboshed by Tillerson, who says there will be no "freeze for freeze" scenario whereby the USA suspends its military exercises beyond the Olympics.

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North and South Korea To March Under Unification Flag?

The media claim that North and South Korea might march into the Olympics stadium under the unification flag.

Let us see if the North really does turn up!

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North Korea Playing Silly Buggers As Usual

North Korea agrees to more high-level inter-Korean talks on the DMZ this week. Judging by tone of NK state media, they may not be as cordial as the first round. KCNA warned Sunday “the trains and buses carrying our representatives to the Winter Olympics are still in Pyongyang.” pic.twitter.com/2MKqP1uRRT

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 15, 2018

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ROK Sets Out Its Terms For The North's Participation

NKNews.org reports that a letter addressed to North Korean representative Ri Son Gwon on Friday, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification (MoU) proposed a high level meeting on January 15 to discuss the DPRK’s participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, according to the MoU spokesperson’s office.


“The R.O.K. Government proposed to hold working-level talks through the Panmunjeom communications channel today (1.12) under the name of Unification Minister Cho Myoung Gyon, chief delegate of the inter-Korean high-level talks, addressed to North Korea’s chief delegate,” an email from the spokesperson’s office read.

“In the letter, the R.O.K. Government proposed to meet at Panmunjeom (Peace House) on January 15, 10 A.M.,” it added.

A delegation of three officials from Seoul would be present, with the chief delegate being Unification Vice Minister Chun Hae-sung.

“The South also delivered a document presenting its position regarding the North’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics and matters on cultural events,” the email added.

Now the horse-trading begins!

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And So It Begins..North Korea Adds To Its Demands

North Korea calls for total suspension of Seoul-Washington military drills https://t.co/Rgf0urNF2c

— NorthKoreaRealTime (@BuckTurgidson79) January 12, 2018

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North Korean Delegation To Be 400-500

Yonhap reports that North Korea is expected to send a delegation of between 400-500 people to South Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

May I ask who will be paying for them, and will that payment breach sanctions?

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Reality Check!

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Pence To Go To The Olympics

No use of the word "ironclad" yet!

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The Triumph of The Will?

Not everyone believes that that the recent/sudden thaw in relations between North Korea and ROK is as genuine as it may appear.

The talks between #NorthKorea and South Korea represent no chance for a breakthrough. The entire purpose for the North Koreans is a propaganda campaign.

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) January 9, 2018

WSJ editorial board: "Talks between N. and S. Korea…have handed Kim Jong Un a propaganda victory…The talks and the 'Olympic truce' allow the young dictator to pose as a man of peace, even as he threatens to annihilate his enemies with nuclear weapons."https://t.co/xvSYVk3knY

— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) January 10, 2018

It is true to say that certain people, such as Bolton, will always be naysayers wrt attempts to make peace. However, it is worth remembering that the 1936 Berlin Olympics were used by the Nazis to show themselves to be a country of "peace" and to further propagandise the myth of the "Triumph of The Will".

Whilst North Korea is not hosting the Games, it will do its best to ride the coattails of ROK wrt the positive publicity the Games will engender. ROK should be on its guard and maximise the opportunity (if North Korea really does attend) to show the North the benefits of democracy, a high standard of living and geopolitical/economic interaction with the world.

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Peace In Our Time?

 

BREAKING: Two Koreas agree in joint statement to hold talks on reducing military tensions, "actively cooperate" in Olympics.

— The Associated Press (@AP) January 9, 2018

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Joint March Possible

North and South Korea both agree to further working-level talks regarding the Olympics, and state that they are getting closer to a "joint march" for the Olympics. @YonhapNews

— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) January 9, 2018

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Guess Who's Coming To The PyeongChang Winter Olympics?

Classic media scrum in #Seoul. Uni. Minister Cho Myoung Gyon swarmed. Cho’s car swarmed as he gets in. Cho followed all the way to the #DMZ on live TV. Cho will lead South in inter-Korean talks from 10a, local. First high-level talks in more than 2 yrs #통일부 #남한 #북한 #한국 pic.twitter.com/GWn7tZ5Uco

— Bruce Harrison (@brucesbeat) January 8, 2018

Following the hastily arranged and much hyped meeting today between ROK and North Korea, it has been agreed that North Korea will attend the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang (9 February - 25 February 2018) and that they will march in with the ROK team.

#breaking North Korea to send high-ranking delegation & cheering team to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, will walk with South Korea in opening ceremony. South Korea proposes reunion of divided families around the Lunar New Year on Feb 16. - Yonhap & Reuters

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) January 9, 2018

As to whether this actually comes to fruition, we shall see.

There are ample opportunities for things to blow this off course eg:

- North Korea performs one of its usual provocations
- The USA decides not to postpone its military exercises
- The USA boycotts the Games
- The USA enacts a pre emptive strike
- People start asking too many questions about who is paying for the North Korean delegation (they never pay their way).


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