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South Korea To Formally Blame North Korea For Torpedo Attack On Thursday

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Europe is broken, HFT traders are about to make cameo appearances on "How to catch a predator", Iran and Israel are scrambling to weaponize plutonium, and now South Korea is about to escalate its involvement with North Korea, by formally blaming Pyongyang for the recent torpedo attack. What happens next nobody knows, but something tells us Hillary Clinton will be completely useless (as usual) in resolving whatever conflict develops out of this. As WaPo reports: "South Korea will formally blame North Korea on Thursday for launching a torpedo at one of its warships in March, causing an explosion that killed 46 sailors and heightened tensions in one of the world's most perilous regions, U.S. and East Asian officials said."

More from WaPo:

South Korea reached its conclusion that North Korea was responsible for the attack after investigators from Australia, Britain, Sweden and the United States pieced together portions of the ship at the port of Pyongtaek, 40 miles southwest of Seoul. The Cheonan sank on March 26, following an explosion that rocked the vessel as it sailed in the Yellow Sea off South Korea's west coast.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because South Korea has yet to disclose the findings of the investigation, said that subsequent analysis determined that the torpedo was identical to a North Korean torpedo that had previously been obtained by South Korea.

South Korea's conclusion underscores the continuing threat posed by North Korea and the intractable nature of the dispute between the two Koreas. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak must respond forcefully to the attack, analysts said, but not in a way that would risk further violence from North Korea, whose artillery could -- within minutes -- devastate greater Seoul, which has a population of 20.5 million.

Time to diversify Au holdings with some Pb.

 

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Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:20 | 358988 papaswamp
papaswamp's picture

The NK people are starving to death...have to do something to divert the attention of the masses. What better way than saying look they are blaming us!! Head south for plenty of food!

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:31 | 358994 Whizbang
Whizbang's picture

So what do they do? Seoul is too close to the border to initiate further conflict. Half of the city would be in flames within minutes? What is the U.S. role to be in all this? Has N. Korea responded to allegations?

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:00 | 359069 cossack55
cossack55's picture

Easy. National holiday in Pusan.  Watch out for tar balls, though.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:31 | 358995 BlackBeard
BlackBeard's picture

Well, that was completely pussified.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:43 | 358997 Ragnarok
Ragnarok's picture

What is it with these dictators like Kim and Castro with serious illnesses hanging on so damn long.  Just get a spy in there and shut off the lights before they enter rooms, old people fall down all the time, plus I don't think Cuba or North Korea have Life Alert.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:01 | 359076 RobD
RobD's picture

Heh, I think there is a video out there somewhere of Castro falling. Didn't kill him. :(

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:55 | 359295 Apostate
Apostate's picture

Funniest comment I've read in a long time.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 21:20 | 359575 Alienated Serf
Alienated Serf's picture

harder then it sounds.  CIA missed taking castro out countless times.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:37 | 359001 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Wars are great distractions. They give the restless population something external to hate and kill rather than focus on the domestic wizards behind the curtains. I call them "Hail Mary Wars" because they come just in time, usually at the last minute, when the current leaders hear the sounds of lynch mobs outside their front doors. Then, with seconds to go and burning torches flying over the walls, there comes an evil doer to score the come from behind win.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:42 | 359018 JohnKing
JohnKing's picture

WAR trumps TARP, TALF, PPIP, TGLP. Just get it over with already.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:57 | 359060 MacedonianGlory
MacedonianGlory's picture

Correct. War is a good excuse for corrupted Gvnts to survive. Socialists always used war to distract people from the problems they caused. Greece has also a similar experience because Greek civil war ended just when Korean civil war started.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:59 | 359066 Patrick Bateman
Patrick Bateman's picture

I agree completely. Merely talking like this is some huge issue "in my opinion" it almost seems like the same shit going on for half a century now keeps us scared. As always, "In my opinion" North and South Korea are the least of our worries. The world is a stage. It's like trying to find the match that will light the conflict out of thousands of dud matches when there is a torch burning right in front of you.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:19 | 359122 WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Yep. Our occupational sandbox wars are mainstream media fatigued so the current administration won't get any real mileage out of them - we need a new shiny object. 

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 20:07 | 359437 fxrxexexdxoxmx
fxrxexexdxoxmx's picture

Wars cause death. Death is never clearer or as painful when another dies so you can live. Those of us who have seen first hand this kind of sacrifice understand. Those who have not speak of war as just an inconvience. See my memories, see my tears, see my friends die so I could live, then talk of war.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 20:50 | 359513 Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

May I suggest you direct your comments towards the men and women responsible for the USA waging two wars for the past 8 or more years. The facts are clear. War is used for many things by the powers that be. The people who fight the wars and those caught in the wars are never asked their opinion.

My comment was intended to display the cavalier attitude the powers that be have towards human life. While they make great speeches about how terrible war is, they don't seem to have a problem with starting them when they feel it would further their goals. And many are started through false flag attacks.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:38 | 359004 DJFUNK
DJFUNK's picture

I think this is predictable.....it's all about China. In this administration....we will abandon Taiwan; Japan will therefore rescind or modify Article 9 (I think) of the JAP Constitution and begin a major defense buildup; we are leaving Guam etc; China will unleash its' currency; we have abandoned space exploration and all that brings in new tech; the Ruskies watch with wonder.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:41 | 359013 Ragnarok
Ragnarok's picture

Change you can believe in!

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:58 | 359064 MacedonianGlory
MacedonianGlory's picture

WW II version 2.0

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 21:22 | 359579 Alienated Serf
Alienated Serf's picture

or WWIII

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:39 | 359007 bugs_
bugs_'s picture

Join now before you get drafted.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 21:47 | 359655 MaxPower
MaxPower's picture

Bugs, I welcome a draft, or even the very mention of it within the halls of Congress.

Armchair quarterbacks and "hawkish neo-cons" all behave more responsibly when they have skin in the game.

MP

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:40 | 359008 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

China supported wich side again? And America supported what side?

so confusing :)

Looks like a pitbull fight where the owners stand behind the fence :)

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:47 | 359035 chet
chet's picture

I wish China would wake up to the fact that it does them no good to support this crazy little man and his starving population next door.  China has the influence there.

If they could helf defuse the N.Korea situation, we could pull back from S.Korea and perhaps some other locations near China.  Could be a win/win.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:55 | 359045 Ragnarok
Ragnarok's picture

Right. If China wants to increase its influence in the region, get the US the hell out of there.

 

Also, if the diffused the Korean situation they could gain prestige (among retards -> political class) on the world stage propelling their aspirations.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:06 | 359092 tmosley
tmosley's picture

Just like that time when the Soviet Union collapsed, and we pulled right out of Germany.

They know it ain't gonna happen, so they use the Little Leader and his tantrums as a means toward various political ends (because they are the only ones that can calm him down--or so they would have us believe).

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:08 | 359098 Ragnarok
Ragnarok's picture

Touche.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:00 | 359161 M.B. Drapier
M.B. Drapier's picture

China* doesn't want any NK refugees or any NK breakup drama, and it isn't too fussy about how it doesn't get them. Besides, even if the US troops leave a united Korea, as long as the new country is a successor to the US-aligned/now-democratic Republic of Korea (South Korea) then China won't want to be sharing the Yalu (or any other long land border) with it. Finally, while China evidently doesn't approve of Kim's worst troublemaking, it may be quietly happy with the normal level of constant expense and grief that NK gives the US and the ROK. Anything that regularly makes US presidents look impotent can't be all bad, right? So China doesn't want to rip the rug from under Kim, which is not to say that it isn't constantly expanding its influence in the DPRK. It's a reasonable guess that China plans to make some signficant moves as soon as Kim gets his promotion, when a certain amount of drama will be unavoidable anyway.

* Meaning mainly the Chinese leadership, of course.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:41 | 359014 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

One way or another, the only way out of this crisis is when we have another World War. Sad, but true. You'd better get a food stock and a small self defence organised. Just in case.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:44 | 359022 Psquared
Psquared's picture

Fuck ... we are being distracted ... something is afoot and it ain't the German ban on short selling, Calpers insolvency, Iranian nuclear weapons or S. Korea blaming N. Korea for sinking a ship.

I think I will stop by the ATM and the grocery store on the way home. We may wake up tomorrow and find a totally different world.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:05 | 359088 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

tomorrow might well be the end of the thuesday we all know today as today... as 24h comes closer I feel that the end is near...

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 21:25 | 359587 Alienated Serf
Alienated Serf's picture

guess what?  most of america does not even know about the sinking, german naked ban shorts, or anything else besides american idol.  gonna take a big bang to wake the masses up.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:48 | 359038 Psquared
Psquared's picture

I don't trust anyone in this administration to competently handle the complex chain of events about to unfold across the planet.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:23 | 359114 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

Come on!  Look at the vast experience Barack Hussein Obama brings to the office of President of the United States.  Look at his grades; he didn't just get into Harvard because he is black.  What has this man, formerly known as Barry Soetoro, done to make you not trust him? We elected him because he is the best of the best of the best.  Now relax.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:44 | 359144 Psquared
Psquared's picture

Oh thats right. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. Case closed. Everyone go to sleep. We are safe.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:12 | 359188 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

That's right, he is a Nobel Peace Prize winner.  Those Norwegians don't just give those out for doing nothing, don't you know?  Look at Al Gore and his Nobel Prize for Best Actor; he probably spent weeks filming.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:57 | 359308 Apostate
Apostate's picture

I'd like him more if he were actually from Kenya.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 19:38 | 359370 M.B. Drapier
M.B. Drapier's picture

Kenya would be perfectly fine; almost anywhere would be better than Harvard. Even Yale is looking good at this point.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:53 | 359052 etrader
etrader's picture

Speeking of Tentions....

Ms Drury seemed a little uneasy being so close to Jimbo.

She kept backing away everytime Jimbo moved in.

Entertaining to watch.....

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1497525011&play=1

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:53 | 359053 DoChenRollingBearing
DoChenRollingBearing's picture

So many problems out there.  I do not see how we get out of the box.

Seems like things are really accelerating.  Bad, bad, bad.

If we get a TEOTWAWKI, then my Au and Pb and pitifully small food stocks probably aren't going to cut it.  We get that, the USA loses 80% - 90% of our population.

On the other hand, we have a President who is bringing Hope and Change.  Feel better already.  Not.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:58 | 359062 cossack55
cossack55's picture

In Darwinian think those would be acceptable losses.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:16 | 359118 RobD
RobD's picture

If you are really concerned about your food stocks look around town for someplace that sales food grade barrels(our local military surplus store sells them along with the local feed store). Get 4 55g barrels then go to costco/sam's club and get 300lbs each of rice, beans, corn(sam's club is selling 50lbs bags of popcorn for $16 dollars) and wheat. You can get once washed wheat and corn at most feed stores. That should keep you in calories for about 6 months. If you want to make it keep for years look up long term food storage on youtube, there are some vids that show how to package up the bulk stuff in Mylar bags using oxygen absorbers that will keep the stuff from spoiling for many years. It is a very bland diet and you would want to add some fresh protein and fat to it if you eat it long term but at least you won't be hungry.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:47 | 359145 Psquared
Psquared's picture

Fuck that. I've got guns, ammo and toilet paper. A single sheet roll will feed you for a week. Double sheets will feed you for two weeks.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:14 | 359196 Betty Swallsack
Betty Swallsack's picture

Well....since you seem to be eating your toilet paper, might I enquire as to what caliber you're using to wipe with?

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 20:42 | 359505 Psquared
Psquared's picture

If this weren't so fucking serious I would be laughing my ass off right now. But since you asked, 9 mm and a 20 gauge shotgun. Lots of ammo.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 16:56 | 359057 john_connor
john_connor's picture

TD, don't forget about the ongoing Eyjafjallajökull eruption and the imminent Katla blow-off.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:02 | 359077 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

and december 2012 is getting closer and closer and closer and closer....

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:10 | 359102 Psquared
Psquared's picture

I work very close with credit and financing. If things get bad banks will shut down or change lending very quickly and I will know within hours if not minutes.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:11 | 359106 DJFUNK
DJFUNK's picture

Yeah...a storm is coming, and even here already. We survive by thinking.

"The boundaries of our country, sir? Why sir, on the north we are bounded by the Aurora Borealis, on the east we are bounded by the rising sun, on the south we are bounded by the procession of the Equinoxes, and on the west by the Day of Judgment."

The American Joe Miller's Jest Book

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:51 | 359150 Psquared
Psquared's picture

I think most of this is tongue 'n cheek. At least it is for me. I fully expect to wake up tomorrow and it will be business as usual. This will be forgotten (and adjusted to) in a day.

Don't think for ONE minute that TT and BB didn't see this coming. You don't spring a surprise like this on the Masters of the Universe.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 19:03 | 359327 JohnKing
JohnKing's picture

True but the plan for TT and BB is to pretend to be surprised.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 17:54 | 359157 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

I didn't know that "blue blood" gives you immunity from radiation poisoning...

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 18:10 | 359187 Betty Swallsack
Betty Swallsack's picture

This incident happened nearly 2 months ago, and since that time, all that has happened, is for SK to decide to wait two more days to formally announce that NK did it.  Bahh!  Next?

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 19:11 | 359342 FischerBlack
FischerBlack's picture

I expect there to be stern words. And little else.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 20:22 | 359466 RECISION
RECISION's picture

Had a funny thought...

If you wanted to set up a false flag incident, does this mean you have to sink one of your own ships now to make it credible?

Not saying that the Norks aren't stupid enough to have actually done it, but just saying...

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 20:24 | 359474 carbonmutant
carbonmutant's picture

I have no doubt that Kim Jong-il has plans to make his death an event that South Korea and the World will remember.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 21:32 | 359607 Alienated Serf
Alienated Serf's picture

oh noez

North Korea calls rare second parliamentary session

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10122505.stm

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 22:08 | 359697 M.B. Drapier
M.B. Drapier's picture

Probably it's for a ritual war-dance, which is quite scary at the moment. If any actual politics breaks out, that will be a lot scarier: "summon the Estates General!"

Wed, 05/19/2010 - 00:11 | 359971 trillionaire
trillionaire's picture

This is like the Gulf of Tonkin incident times 10 and the hawks have all been silent.  This tells me the west perceives itself as too weak to confront NK the way they really want to.

Wed, 05/19/2010 - 00:20 | 359978 Alienated Serf
Alienated Serf's picture

Seol is within NK artillery range.  End of story.

Wed, 05/19/2010 - 02:03 | 360112 RECISION
RECISION's picture

Hmmm...

Depends how BIG you want to go.

Nukes could solve that problem technically, but there could be some political problems with that...

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