N.Korean Troops 'Ready to Shoot' After Currency Reform

[FBM]

This ought to turn out well...

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/htm ... 00209.html

The North Korean Army is on standby and ready to quell any protests against last week's drastic currency reform, Russian business daily Kommersant last Friday quoted diplomatic sources in North Korea as saying. The sources said authorities had ordered the Army to stand by as outrage grew in cities across the North, with critics describing the reform as daylight robbery.

North Koreans are panicking as all shops were ordered closed during the currency reform period and they can no longer use any money they have saved up. Foreign diplomats are meeting with North Korean authorities in efforts to persuade them to reverse the reform, the sources added. The North last week revalued the won at a rate of 100:1.

According to sources in the North, the National Defense Committee has ordered guards on the border with China to shoot at will at anyone who crosses without permission. This is seen as an attempt to thwart defections by people disgruntled by the currency reform.

The sources said there could be a mass defection of middle-class North Koreans who have suddenly been deprived of their money. One South Korean intelligence officer said, "We don't have any information that there'll be a riot or a mass defection, but since North Koreans have never so far taken collective action, they are more likely to choose defection if the situation gets worse."

The Ministry of Public Security has been on emergency alert after old 5,000-won bills carrying the image of Kim Il-sung were found torn or damaged on piles of garbage in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province, and Pyongsong, South Pyongan Province. Graffiti and leaflets criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il have also started to appear, the sources added. North Koreans are reportedly reluctant to replace old bills with new ones as a gesture of protest against the currency reform.

The authorities have apparently caved in to some extent by raising the maximum amount of old bills that can be exchanged from 100,000 won per household to 150,000.

[JimC]

It will all end in tears before bedtime, mark my words...

But seriously, the regime will end in a bloodbath at some time...

[FBM]

Seems inevitable, doesn't it? When it does hit the fan, I hope they keep all that north of the DMZ.

[JimC]

Seems inevitable, doesn't it? When it does hit the fan, I hope they keep all that north of the DMZ.

It's the final, hate-filled violent spasm that you have to look out for...

"Apres moi, le deluge"

[klr]

They actually have money - and savings - in the Worker's Paradise?

[FBM]

"Apres moi, le deluge"

I wouldn't mind going out with a bang, but I'd like to get my shots in first. Should I survive, I'd love the chance to go to the North and help heal and rebuild. Saturday, I met a guy on the subway who goes to the North to help save their rivers from erosion and flood damage. He showed me some photos he'd taken of the countryside and some of the people. I have to admit, I don't know what keeps them going in such bleakness and lack of hope, where even their leaders don't care about them.

They actually have money - and savings - in the Worker's Paradise?

Used to.

[AshtonBlack]

Anyone else smell blood in the water?
I think the world will watch with interest!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Anyone else smell blood in the water?
I think the world will watch with interest!

I got my heart broken in 1989. I'm not getting excited until the fat lady sings.

[redunderthebed]

Anyone else smell blood in the water?
I think the world will watch with interest!

I got my heart broken in 1989. I'm not getting excited until the fat lady sings.

DPRK is a tough bugger it survived the cold war where its allies more or less collapsed around them it survived the death of kim il sung it has survived the west trying to starve itself to give up its sovereignty and i don't think they will collapse for a long long time.

For the record i don't support DPRK in so far as there leader ideology et al. However i do support them against American and Western Imperialism and believe that there problems are internal and should be sorted out by there own people not by bombing the crap out of the country and invading and other meddling.

[FBM]

DPRK is a tough bugger it survived the cold war where its allies more or less collapsed around them it survived the death of kim il sung it has survived the west trying to starve itself to give up its sovereignty and i don't think they will collapse for a long long time.

There do appear to be major cracks in their Orwellian system. Advances in electronic technology are making it possible for more and more N. Koreans to see how their Southern counterparts really live. It's mainly the North's middle and upper classes who have access to such technology, so discontent will most likely be seen in the power-bearing strata first. There are also signs of fractures and malcontent within the military, with desertions becoming more commonplace. If/when it does collapse from within, it's going to be a major shitstorm for everybody north of the 38th, and you can bet there will be a lot of bloodshed and starvation among the masses.

For the record i don't support DPRK in so far as there leader ideology et al. However i do support them against American and Western Imperialism and believe that there problems are internal and should be sorted out by there own people not by bombing the crap out of the country and invading and other meddling.

I couldn't agree more. Nature will run its course, and trying to speed the process up will only cause more problems than it would solve.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So are they moving from 440 to 220 or what?

[FBM]

So are they moving from 440 to 220 or what?

Or from 220 to 110?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

So are they moving from 440 to 220 or what?

Or from 220 to 110?

When I arrived in Sicily one of the guys told me, "The current is metric here, so you'll need a converter."

[FBM]

So are they moving from 440 to 220 or what?

Or from 220 to 110?

When I arrived in Sicily one of the guys told me, "The current is metric here, so you'll need a converter."

Got.