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China-Japan-Koreas
Up North, the Commandoes Are Restless
2005-03-02
March 1, 2005: North Korean special forces, a commando organization modeled after the Russian Spetsnaz, are showing unusual activity. This could mean preparations for an attack on South Korea, but there is no similar activity among the regular army divisions that would lead a move south. The special forces could be preparing to deal with civilian unrest, or moving to carry out, or block, a coup. Or both.
The North Korean commandoes are largely conscripts, as were the original Soviet Spetsnaz. But North Korean conscripts are in for six years, making them more experienced than their Russian counterparts. North Korean conscripts are, of course, drafted from the general population. But the North Korean people have gone through a decade of famine and increasing privation. Despite some of the most intense indoctrination ever inflicted on a populations, North Koreans are beginning to lose their loyalty to the system they have long believed to be the best in the world. Even commandoes have kin who have starved to death.
When your elite troops start suffering, they may start thinking about a change in leadership
It's those damn cell phones again. The truth may be able to set you free, but let it loose among thousands of tough guys with guns, and the results can be unpredictable. That same proliferation of cell phones has unmasked the usually well hidden movements of special forces units.
I'll wager the radio intercept people up at Misawa are putting in some overtime.
Posted by:Steve

#17  Wow, you read that stuff, DB?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-03-02 9:17:52 PM  

#16  I know I'm gonna regret this, but....
Betty Crocker-crat? WTF, buddy?
You channeling Dr Bronner?
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-03-02 9:09:35 PM  

#15  Even the most devout armed followers have gotta realize iff changes don't happen soon, even they will have to eat "long pigs/cows" instead of Mom's kimchee, ala SOLYENT GREEN. The choice for all of world Socialism, espec the Commies - oops, meant Clintonian Communist Fascists = Fascist Communists, suboops Regulators and Betty Crocker-crats and assorted Rightistas-Capitalistas - is either inevitable self-implosion, or else wage expansionist war for survival and continuance of power! Iff Russia and China are preparing to wage Global Nuke War ags America and only America circa 2015-2020, to which peace-loving option did they prefer, where Global WW3 or 4 = Limited Vietnam(s)!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2005-03-02 8:45:20 PM  

#14  those are mighty tall hats to fill.
Posted by: 1/2 pint   2005-03-02 5:04:33 PM  

#13  
Why no one dare touch Dear Leader when he has so many "friends"...

Of course one of these guys in the background could be the new Dear Leader after Dear Leader becomes Dearly Departed...

Posted by: BigEd   2005-03-02 4:10:35 PM  

#12  "a commando organization modeled after the Russian Spetsnaz"

Not commenting on their individual toughness, but don't you think the n. kor. should model their org after the winner, not the looser?
Posted by: Mark E.   2005-03-02 3:47:03 PM  

#11  If you're simultaneously carrying out a coup while blocking someone else's, you might as well break out the credit card and put a rhetorical down payment on "civil war", because it sounds like you're going to need it to describe the situation.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2005-03-02 2:48:08 PM  

#10  they could carry out their own coup while blocking someone else's
While poor Kimmie gets caught in the "crossfire", and the "coup plotters" all die during the attempt.
Posted by: Steve   2005-03-02 12:14:01 PM  

#9  AP - they could carry out their own coup while blocking someone else's ;-)
Posted by: Frank G   2005-03-02 11:48:51 AM  

#8  ROTFL
Posted by: Matt   2005-03-02 11:48:30 AM  

#7  Ship:

...and using that cheap plastic, too.
Posted by: Carl in N.H.   2005-03-02 11:44:30 AM  

#6  a commando organization modeled after the Russian Spetsnaz

In this case approximately 1/2 scale.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-03-02 11:22:34 AM  

#5  The special forces could be preparing to deal with civilian unrest, or moving to carry out, or block, a coup. Or both.

One would have to admit, though, that they convered many of the possibilities for the troop movements. Carrying out and blocking a coup at the same time....well, that's original.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-03-02 11:06:16 AM  

#4  Can I also add that the NK Special Forces are made up of only the most devout KoolAid drinkers. It would be HIGHLY unlikely that any coup would come from this group. A more likely scenario would be an Army unit from the NorthEast part of the country. That is the area that is bearing the brunt of the famine and gets the least amount of help.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-03-02 10:46:08 AM  

#3  As a reminder, March is usually the month that the Foal Eagle exercise takes place, and NK usually does something pouty to show how much they hate Americans and South Koreans actually having the nerve to not allow them to repeat their 1950 adventure.
Posted by: Dreadnought   2005-03-02 10:38:45 AM  

#2  I sneezed. Is that close enough?
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-03-02 9:44:21 AM  

#1  Coup? Did someone say coup?
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-03-02 9:32:21 AM  

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