Can the Korean situation be defused?

Things are definitely escalating today between the two Koreas. N. Korea has severed all relations with the South.

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=502874

North Korea has also apparently mobilized for war.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/25/n.korea.threats/?hpt=T2

S. Korea is, for the first time in years, blaring propaganda across the border.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=10734380

What can be done to reduce these tensions and defuse this dangerous situation? Who should take the lead?

Didn't the "Korean conflict" end in a stalemate and cease-fire?

more or less. there was no definitive end to the conflict.

Re-unification was never the UN or US goal. Those who favored that goal were a small minority in both the Truman administration and the Pentagon. MacArthur just went ahead anyway. And Truman did not want the political embarrasement of having to admit he had a rogue general on his hands.

Once MacArthur's secret plan -- lure China into the war then go nuclear -- failed (the nuclear half), and all UN forces refused to continue under MacArthur's command, Matt Ridgeway took command and made no attempt whatsoever to re-invade the north. Even more to the point, he ordered our forces still in control of the eastern half of North Korea to withdraw to the border.

So there was no stalemate. North Korea and China tried to conquer South Korea and lost.

We don't need to spend any diplomatic energy or (especially) military resources on their long-standing chronic disputes.

:argh:

Especially considering the number of troops at the DMZ.

It seems that China is the only country that has any influence at all on NK.

North Korea has atomics, they have used brinksmanship as diplomacy for decades...China has the best chance to figure out just what it is that N.Korea is trying to get out of this.

They're the ones who will try to end the regime in N Korea quickly and unexpectedly -- some day.

OF course it doesn't always work as the German generals found out in July 1944.

What did the South Koreans do? What do they EVER do when the North fucks with them? Nothing.

the evil dwarf stirring up shit in their back yard. Before this situation completely draws in China and the U.S.,I think that "Dear Leader" will pass away peacefully in his sleep, leading to a regime change.

I don't think they would dare actually attacking the South without China's express permission and China wouldn't give it.

This is the kind of thing the North does whenever they want something and because they always have found it to be successful they continue to do it.

I think we will see the North start to place "demands" on the rest of world to ensure they don't obliterate the South. These demands will slowly go from outright nuts to just plain nuts and eventually it will ease back to the normal State of idiocy that it has been for over 50 years.

40,000 US soldiers in South Korea... mad man in the North with a million man army. Keep eyes open, make precautionary moves... don't get caught with pants @ ankles.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she has had extensive discussions with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on the crisis unfolding on the Korean peninsula. Clinton was speaking at a Beijing press conference today marking the end of the annual U.S.-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue:

“We had very productive and detailed discussions about North Korea, starting on Sunday night and going through today. The Chinese understand the gravity of the situation, and Premier Wen will be traveling to the Republic of Korea on Friday to consult with President Lee. Both Premier Wen and President Hu Jintao expressed their deep regrets over the loss of lives that came from this incident -- the sinking of the naval vessel.

“We pledged to stay in very close consultation. I told them I was going to South Korea tomorrow for consultations with both President Lee and Foreign Minister Yu. We will be reporting to the Chinese the results of our consultations and we will be discussing with them the results of Premier Wen’s visits on Friday.

“We expect to be working together with China in responding to North Korea’s provocative action and promoting stability in the region. I think it is absolutely clear that China not only values, but is very committed to regional stability and it shares with us the goal of a denuclearized Korean peninsula and a period of careful consideration in order to determine the best way forward in dealing with North Korea as a result of this latest incident.

More: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-25/china-understands-gravity-of-north-korean-crisis-clinton-says.html

Incredibly scary and tense but these two nations have been involved in a hostile staredown for sixty years, with their huge sponso states holding them back form active war. Unfortunately, I do worry that Kim is one of those few world leaders who actually is crazy and might do something that truly borders on the irrational.

Bottom line is that it's not in China's nor either of the two Korea's or the US's best interest for the conflict here to escalate.

Even Dear leader's aware of that- and if he's not, those around him holding power are.

arrest Kim, his henchmen and peacefully reunify with the rest of the civilized world. The North Koreans are suffering GREATLY.

:dream: