North Korean soldier shoots three Chinese dead

Undesired Walrus · 8th June 2010, 02:44 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...c/10263325.stm

Quote:

China says a North Korean border guard shot and killed three people on the Chinese side of the border last week.

A fourth person was injured in the incident in the north-eastern border town of Dandong, China said.

China has made a formal complaint to North Korea, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said.

And:

Quote:

The two countries are normally close allies. It is unusual for China to make any public criticism of its neighbour.

Progress I suppose.

coalesce · 8th June 2010, 06:41 AM

Well, to be fair, the three DID look like South Korean ships.

Michael

WildCat · 8th June 2010, 06:43 AM

Originally Posted by coalesce

Well, to be fair, the three DID look like South Korean ships.

Michael

And one of them turned a cartwheel.

coalesce · 8th June 2010, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by WildCat

And one of them turned a cartwheel.

I hate when that happens...

Wait! Maybe one of them was an air marshal trying to get on a plane with a gun...

Michael

Cleon · 8th June 2010, 06:47 AM

<CT mode ON>

I wonder if this actually happened, or if China's making it up.

China has to see the DPRK as something of a liability these days, doubly so since the Cheonan. Something like this could give them an excuse to distance themselves from Kim without losing face.

Just a random thought.

coalesce · 8th June 2010, 07:21 AM

Maybe, but that would mean that by pulling away from North Korea, China would, in essence, move closer to the United States. And given this article, I find that a little hard to believe.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...print/asection

Michael

Pardalis · 8th June 2010, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Cleon

<CT mode ON>

I wonder if this actually happened, or if China's making it up.

China has to see the DPRK as something of a liability these days, doubly so since the Cheonan. Something like this could give them an excuse to distance themselves from Kim without losing face.

Just a random thought.

You forgot to turn the CT mode off.

Bikewer · 8th June 2010, 07:54 AM

At the same time, CNN has an article up this morning on the impending transfer of power from Kim to his son:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapc...le+Feedfetcher
Difficult to say if this will presage any change in NK policies, but at present it appears they are dead-set on being confrontational.

Captain.Sassy · 8th June 2010, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by coalesce

Maybe, but that would mean that by pulling away from North Korea, China would, in essence, move closer to the United States. And given this article, I find that a little hard to believe.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...print/asection

Michael

I don't think that seeing eye to eye on some issues necessarily means that China would be 'moving closer' to the United States in general terms. Also you might have the carriage in front of the horse- China's interest isn't necessarily to oppose the US, but China at times opposes the US because of its interests.

Jekyll's Guest · 8th June 2010, 08:01 AM

The fact that they did not just catch the bullets proves that their Kung-Fu was weak!

All those movies have just been propaganda, now is the time to attack!

dudalb · 8th June 2010, 11:14 AM

If NK suceeds in alienating the Chinese, they will have achieved the Paranoid's fantasy; The whole world will be against them.

Jekyll's Guest · 8th June 2010, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

If NK suceeds in alienating the Chinese, they will have achieved the Paranoid's fantasy; The whole world will be against them.

Does the Democratic Republic of the Congo need a new buddy?

Shining examples of democracy should stick together.

Wolfman · 8th June 2010, 05:25 PM

Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes.

China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident.

Arrow · 11th June 2010, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes.

China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident.

I was surprised, I have a Chinese friend living in N. Korean bordering Liaoning Province, and while he mentioned the shooting, he didn't seem upset or concerned by it.

Comsat Angel · 11th June 2010, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes.

China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident.

(Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border?

Also, if it's not a major incident, why publicise it?

Undesired Walrus · 11th June 2010, 12:39 PM

I'm pretty sure there is a famous river dividing a certain part of China and North Korea. In the winter it is alleged some North Koreans flee over its frozen surface to China. It's said by the winter's end that the ice is riddled with bullet holes.

Cleon · 11th June 2010, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Comsat Angel

(Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border?

That's true of the DMZ between North and South Korea, but not between Korea and China. There's even a bridge.

The Central Scrutinizer · 11th June 2010, 12:49 PM

Maybe he didn't know they were Chinese. Those orientals all look alike.

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

North Korean soldier shoots three Chinese dead

Can we arrange to get this guy about two billion more bullets? Seems he has a good idea ...

(OK, y'all are gonna throw rocks at me for that one. Cast away ... )

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2010, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes.

Funny, that sounds sorta like the Texican/Messkin border.

DR

Darth Rotor · 11th June 2010, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Arrow

I was surprised, I have a Chinese friend living in N. Korean bordering Liaoning Province, and while he mentioned the shooting, he didn't seem upset or concerned by it.

Probably because he wasn't the one shot.

Wolfman · 12th June 2010, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Comsat Angel

(Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border?

Also, if it's not a major incident, why publicise it?

North and South Korea are in a permanent state of war; of course their border is militarized. China and North Korea, on the other hand, are historical allies. There are actually very few border controls, and vast tracts of land that one can get across relatively easily.

With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to buy a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband. Since she enters China illegally, she'll have no passport or visa, and thus no legal rights; her husband can do pretty much whatever he wants, and she has no recourse to seek help.

DC · 12th June 2010, 02:00 AM

Quote:

With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to "buy" a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband.

its not "buy" its plain and simple buy.

Wolfman · 12th June 2010, 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by DC

its not "buy" its plain and simple buy.

Very good point.

*fixed*

Oh...and by the way...it's not "its", it's "it's" plain and simple

DC · 12th June 2010, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Very good point.

*fixed*

Oh...and by the way...it's not "its", it's "it's" plain and simple

very good point

but cant fix it anymore

plaind and simple

Comsat Angel · 15th June 2010, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfman

North and South Korea are in a permanent state of war; of course their border is militarized. China and North Korea, on the other hand, are historical allies. There are actually very few border controls, and vast tracts of land that one can get across relatively easily.

With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to buy a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband. Since she enters China illegally, she'll have no passport or visa, and thus no legal rights; her husband can do pretty much whatever he wants, and she has no recourse to seek help.

Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer.

I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct?

rjh01 · 15th June 2010, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Comsat Angel

Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer.

I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct?

The sort of barrier a country would erect is different depending on if it fears starving people flooding into the country or unfriendly armed forces. A simple barrier would be enough for the former.

Wolfman · 16th June 2010, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by Comsat Angel

Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer.

I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct?

I'd say there are three reasons:

1) Putting up such a border defense would be taken very negatively by the paranoid North Korean leadership; the most likely response would be a sudden massive build-up of N. Korean troops along the Chinese border.

2) The North Koreans do a pretty damn good job of keeping their people in...its really only a small number who manage to get out. There's no massive wave of unwanted refugees.

3) The majority of North Koreans who do make it into China are smuggled in (brides, labor, etc.) with the aid of Chinese, and have a place here. These aren't refugees who are causing problems for China...and as such, are not a priority for the Chinese gov't. Those refugees who do come to the attention of the Chinese government are simply picked up and shipped back to N. Korea (where at best they'll be imprisoned and 're-educated'; at worst they'll be executed).

Undesired Walrus · 16th June 2010, 06:41 AM

On one of the northern DPRK beaches there is a long wire fence to keep the locals in. It's crudely made up to look like an deadly electric fence, with red buttons and the like, but really it is just a wire fence.

8th June 2010, 02:44 AM	#1
Undesired Walrus Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11,678	North Korean soldier shoots three Chinese dead http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...c/10263325.stm Quote: China says a North Korean border guard shot and killed three people on the Chinese side of the border last week. A fourth person was injured in the incident in the north-eastern border town of Dandong, China said. China has made a formal complaint to North Korea, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said. And: Quote: The two countries are normally close allies. It is unusual for China to make any public criticism of its neighbour. Progress I suppose.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, 1945

8th June 2010, 06:41 AM	#2
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	Well, to be fair, the three DID look like South Korean ships. Michael
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	__________________ "I want the kids in bed by nine, the dog fed, the yard watered and the gate locked. And get a note to the milkman NO MORE CHEESE!" “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

8th June 2010, 06:43 AM	#3
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 59,856	Originally Posted by coalesce Well, to be fair, the three DID look like South Korean ships. Michael And one of them turned a cartwheel.
	__________________ Vive la liberté!

8th June 2010, 06:47 AM	#4
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	Originally Posted by WildCat And one of them turned a cartwheel. I hate when that happens... Wait! Maybe one of them was an air marshal trying to get on a plane with a gun... Michael
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	__________________ "I want the kids in bed by nine, the dog fed, the yard watered and the gate locked. And get a note to the milkman NO MORE CHEESE!" “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

8th June 2010, 06:47 AM	#5
Cleon King of the Pod People Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 25,655	<CT mode ON> I wonder if this actually happened, or if China's making it up. China has to see the DPRK as something of a liability these days, doubly so since the Cheonan. Something like this could give them an excuse to distance themselves from Kim without losing face. Just a random thought.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

8th June 2010, 07:21 AM	#6
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	Maybe, but that would mean that by pulling away from North Korea, China would, in essence, move closer to the United States. And given this article, I find that a little hard to believe. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...print/asection Michael
coalesce Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,657	__________________ "I want the kids in bed by nine, the dog fed, the yard watered and the gate locked. And get a note to the milkman NO MORE CHEESE!" “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

8th June 2010, 07:26 AM	#7
Pardalis Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 25,817	Originally Posted by Cleon <CT mode ON> I wonder if this actually happened, or if China's making it up. China has to see the DPRK as something of a liability these days, doubly so since the Cheonan. Something like this could give them an excuse to distance themselves from Kim without losing face. Just a random thought. You forgot to turn the CT mode off.
Pardalis Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 25,817

8th June 2010, 07:54 AM	#8
Bikewer Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 12,245	At the same time, CNN has an article up this morning on the impending transfer of power from Kim to his son: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapc...le+Feedfetcher Difficult to say if this will presage any change in NK policies, but at present it appears they are dead-set on being confrontational.

8th June 2010, 07:55 AM	#9
Captain.Sassy Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,236	Originally Posted by coalesce Maybe, but that would mean that by pulling away from North Korea, China would, in essence, move closer to the United States. And given this article, I find that a little hard to believe. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...print/asection Michael I don't think that seeing eye to eye on some issues necessarily means that China would be 'moving closer' to the United States in general terms. Also you might have the carriage in front of the horse- China's interest isn't necessarily to oppose the US, but China at times opposes the US because of its interests.
	__________________ Evolution a poem As luck would have it, people.

8th June 2010, 08:01 AM	#10
Jekyll's Guest Master Poster Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,207	The fact that they did not just catch the bullets proves that their Kung-Fu was weak! All those movies have just been propaganda, now is the time to attack!

8th June 2010, 11:14 AM	#11
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 39,781	If NK suceeds in alienating the Chinese, they will have achieved the Paranoid's fantasy; The whole world will be against them.

8th June 2010, 01:56 PM	#12
Jekyll's Guest Master Poster Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,207	Originally Posted by dudalb If NK suceeds in alienating the Chinese, they will have achieved the Paranoid's fantasy; The whole world will be against them. Does the Democratic Republic of the Congo need a new buddy? Shining examples of democracy should stick together.

8th June 2010, 05:25 PM	#13
Wolfman Chief Solipsistic Autosycophant Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dongguan, China Posts: 13,193	Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes. China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident.
	__________________ Please check out my blog and forum, "Wrest In Peace"

11th June 2010, 10:00 AM	#14
Arrow Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 147	Originally Posted by Wolfman Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes. China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident. I was surprised, I have a Chinese friend living in N. Korean bordering Liaoning Province, and while he mentioned the shooting, he didn't seem upset or concerned by it.
Arrow Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 147

11th June 2010, 12:34 PM	#15
Comsat Angel Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 893	Originally Posted by Wolfman Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes. China's not exactly ecstatic about this, but nor are they particularly upset. They routinely arrest/imprison Chinese caught doing this, and arrest/deport North Koreans who are caught. In short, it really doesn't seem like a particularly major political incident. (Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border? Also, if it's not a major incident, why publicise it?
Comsat Angel Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 893

11th June 2010, 12:39 PM	#16
Undesired Walrus Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11,678	I'm pretty sure there is a famous river dividing a certain part of China and North Korea. In the winter it is alleged some North Koreans flee over its frozen surface to China. It's said by the winter's end that the ice is riddled with bullet holes.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, 1945

11th June 2010, 12:40 PM	#17
Cleon King of the Pod People Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 25,655	Originally Posted by Comsat Angel (Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border? That's true of the DMZ between North and South Korea, but not between Korea and China. There's even a bridge.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

11th June 2010, 12:49 PM	#18
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 52,917	Maybe he didn't know they were Chinese. Those orientals all look alike.
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him. Lupus is Lupus tor central scrutineezer

11th June 2010, 05:34 PM	#19
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38,517	Quote: North Korean soldier shoots three Chinese dead Can we arrange to get this guy about two billion more bullets? Seems he has a good idea ... (OK, y'all are gonna throw rocks at me for that one. Cast away ... )
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

11th June 2010, 05:36 PM	#20
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38,517	Originally Posted by Wolfman Illegal trade -- including trafficking in children and women -- is common along that border. All of the reports in China seem to be emphasizing that the Chinese who were shot, were shot because they were suspected of crossing the border for illegal purposes. Funny, that sounds sorta like the Texican/Messkin border. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

11th June 2010, 05:37 PM	#21
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38,517	Originally Posted by Arrow I was surprised, I have a Chinese friend living in N. Korean bordering Liaoning Province, and while he mentioned the shooting, he didn't seem upset or concerned by it. Probably because he wasn't the one shot.
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

12th June 2010, 01:51 AM	#22
Wolfman Chief Solipsistic Autosycophant Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dongguan, China Posts: 13,193	Originally Posted by Comsat Angel (Bolding mine). How is this possible? One gets the impression that the North Korean border zone is ten miles deep and consists of endless barbed wire, mines, rabid guard dogs and rabid guards. Is this not true of the NK/Chinese border? Also, if it's not a major incident, why publicise it? North and South Korea are in a permanent state of war; of course their border is militarized. China and North Korea, on the other hand, are historical allies. There are actually very few border controls, and vast tracts of land that one can get across relatively easily. With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to buy a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband. Since she enters China illegally, she'll have no passport or visa, and thus no legal rights; her husband can do pretty much whatever he wants, and she has no recourse to seek help.
	__________________ Please check out my blog and forum, "Wrest In Peace" Last edited by Wolfman; 12th June 2010 at 02:57 AM.

12th June 2010, 02:00 AM	#23
DC Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 23,064	Quote: With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to "buy" a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband. its not "buy" its plain and simple buy.
DC Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 23,064

12th June 2010, 02:56 AM	#24
Wolfman Chief Solipsistic Autosycophant Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dongguan, China Posts: 13,193	Originally Posted by DC its not "buy" its plain and simple buy. Very good point. fixed Oh...and by the way...it's not "its", it's "it's" plain and simple
	__________________ Please check out my blog and forum, "Wrest In Peace" Last edited by Wolfman; 12th June 2010 at 02:58 AM.

12th June 2010, 08:36 AM	#25
DC Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 23,064	Originally Posted by Wolfman Very good point. fixed Oh...and by the way...it's not "its", it's "it's" plain and simple very good point but cant fix it anymore plaind and simple
DC Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 23,064

15th June 2010, 01:15 PM	#26
Comsat Angel Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 893	Originally Posted by Wolfman North and South Korea are in a permanent state of war; of course their border is militarized. China and North Korea, on the other hand, are historical allies. There are actually very few border controls, and vast tracts of land that one can get across relatively easily. With the shortage of women in China, one of the options is to buy a North Korean bride. The money will be paid to her family, and she'll be smuggled across the border into China to join her new husband. Since she enters China illegally, she'll have no passport or visa, and thus no legal rights; her husband can do pretty much whatever he wants, and she has no recourse to seek help. Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer. I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct?
Comsat Angel Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 893

15th June 2010, 11:56 PM	#27
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Flying around in the sky Posts: 23,753	Originally Posted by Comsat Angel Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer. I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct? The sort of barrier a country would erect is different depending on if it fears starving people flooding into the country or unfriendly armed forces. A simple barrier would be enough for the former.

16th June 2010, 01:38 AM	#28
Wolfman Chief Solipsistic Autosycophant Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dongguan, China Posts: 13,193	Originally Posted by Comsat Angel Thanks, Wolfman, a very interesting answer. I do wonder, then, why China doesn't have a more "formally-organised" (i.e. miles of barbed wire, mines, rabid - etc etc) border, if their supposed fear of millions of starving North Koreans heading China-wards in the event of a national collapse, is correct? I'd say there are three reasons: 1) Putting up such a border defense would be taken very negatively by the paranoid North Korean leadership; the most likely response would be a sudden massive build-up of N. Korean troops along the Chinese border. 2) The North Koreans do a pretty damn good job of keeping their people in...its really only a small number who manage to get out. There's no massive wave of unwanted refugees. 3) The majority of North Koreans who do make it into China are smuggled in (brides, labor, etc.) with the aid of Chinese, and have a place here. These aren't refugees who are causing problems for China...and as such, are not a priority for the Chinese gov't. Those refugees who do come to the attention of the Chinese government are simply picked up and shipped back to N. Korea (where at best they'll be imprisoned and 're-educated'; at worst they'll be executed).
	__________________ Please check out my blog and forum, "Wrest In Peace"

16th June 2010, 06:41 AM	#29
Undesired Walrus Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11,678	On one of the northern DPRK beaches there is a long wire fence to keep the locals in. It's crudely made up to look like an deadly electric fence, with red buttons and the like, but really it is just a wire fence.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, 1945