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North Korea may have just conducted a fifth nuclear test:
A seismic event in North Korea on Friday morning measured by the U.S. Geological Survey with a magnitude of 5.3 appeared to be a nuclear test, South Korea's meteorological agency said. The seismic event was detected near North Korea's known nuclear test site, where it detonated its fourth nuclear device in January.
USGS: M5.3 Explosion - 15km ENE of Sungjibaegam, North Korea
Bloomberg also has coverage Shallow Earthquake Detected Near North Korea Nuclear Site which goes into some analysis on the political impact of the test.
Separately, Vanity Fair notes None of your snark, please:
The Independent reports that North Korean party officials held several mass meetings across the country in an attempt to warn citizens that criticizing the state via indirect, ironic statements such as "This is all America's fault" would be illegal and "unacceptable." And the consequences for disobeying are particularly unfunny: according to the nonprofit group Liberty in North Korea, any criticism of the government—including, apparently, the North Korean version of "Thanks, Obama"—"is enough to make you and your family 'disappear' from society and end up in a political prison camp."
Even common idioms are not safe from the sarcasm crackdown: Radio Free Asia reported that, during one of the meetings, the party banned the common expression "a fool who cannot see the outside world," which the regime believes constitutes criticism of Kim's refusal to attend international celebrations marking the end of World War II. (Even party officials within the hyper-authoritarian state were reportedly "shocked" by Kim's decision.)
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Bogsnoticus on Friday September 09 2016, @04:29AM
Thats why I support limited conscription.
The only people who can be forcibly conscripted, are the children of politicians, and they must serve on the front lines.
The only people who can stand for election, are those with children old enough to serve.
Bet a lot of countries will be less willing to go to war, when it's the decision makers own kids who will be the first to be turned into strawberry jam.
Genius by birth. Evil by choice.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 09 2016, @08:09AM
I would also add a martial law stating that earning one cent from war, directly or indirectly, should be jailed or executed. Country enters war state, all your assets get frozen. Assets needed to wage war get exchanged for a certificate. At the end of the war, compensation is done so the losses are equally distributed to all persons depending on the initial frozen situation (ditto for gains). Killing people that profit from war, internationally, should always be considered self defense, none of that terrorism crap. Then we would only have still ugly, but less unjust wars.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Friday September 09 2016, @02:09PM
I agree that it should be a non-profit "business" with transparent expenditures and payroll.
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(Score: 2) by tibman on Friday September 09 2016, @02:08PM
I'd like to put a tweak on your idea.
There, now we're almost to Starship Troopers : )
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