No. Korea apologized

[fadedrose]

So. Korea will stop provocations..

Will have another meeting soon..

wonderful news - especially for guys who served there....

Congratulations to the diplomats who somehow prevailed...

Another nuke that won't be used, I hope...

[MADem]

1. Well, they "expressed regret." It's not quite an "I'm sorry that I DID THAT." It's an

"I'm sorry that happened to you..."

Better than nothing, certainly: http://www.omaha.com/news/world/seoul-s-korea-to-halt-loudspeaker-broadcasts-after-n-korea/article_c9de1892-ca46-53af-92cb-0459426f1190.html

[fadedrose]

2. I heard that the president of So Korea

demanded they apologize for some mines NK planted where some of the SK army were injured...and NK did apologize...

and SK said it would stop the noise...

And they agreed to meet again. They actually met twice, recessed and came back again...this is so very hopeful.

Any bending at all by NK deserves praise for those in the talks.

I am happy till they fight about something again...that's final.

[MADem]

3. I doubt NK did any bending on their own--China likely twisted their arms. Probably HARD, too.

"You wanna see your people starve again, Little Kim? I can show you some hungry, punk!!!"

China has problems of their own of late and doesn't have the time or inclination (or desire to expend a lot of cash) to get involved in any military dramas right now. For this reason, I think they bigfooted Little Kim's crew into making nice.

China is often reluctant to put their thumb down on NK, but I think that's what produced this little squeak of "regret" and it's likely going to have to do, for now.

[fadedrose]

5. In my heart

I was hoping that the US had something to do with it - a beginning perhaps to an Iran type agreement with NK...

China has enough trouble with their market falling, maybe NK doesn't want to be another problem, and with our better economy, figures it's time to play nice. China maybe can't spare money for food for the hungry NK's...

That huge fire in China was followed by another fire a couple of days later..didn't hear as much about this one, but they have to tend to home. No time for NK at present.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. The only thing that will get the brutal dictators of N. Korea out of power is

a protracted and bloody re-opening to the Korean war.

Tales of the North Korean "madmen" are greatly exaggerated. They are interested in self-preservation, and will even grovel to the South if need be. Why ruin a good thing (good for them, anyway)?