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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40931775
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reviewed plans to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam but will hold off, state media said.
Although prepared for "the enveloping fire at Guam", the North said it would watch what "the foolish Yankees" do before taking a decision.
Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides.
[...] The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un "examined the plan for a long time" and discussed it with senior military officials.
The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam".
But, crucially, the report also said that Mr Kim would watch the US before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric.
Previously: North Korea Has Reportedly Miniaturized a Nuke, and is Threatening Guam
(Score: 4, Insightful) by n1 on Tuesday August 15 2017, @05:08PM (1 child)
As far as i'm aware, there's actually no appreciable change in the rhetoric. The main change is the focus of the reporting, this is common with the North Korean 'threats' ... The qualifying of language stating that this would be in response to military action against them is rarely a focus, just the exciting and provoking stuff.
You can usually see this in reporting of KCNA articles, but you will rarely get more than a three word quote at a time, and certainly never a link to the full transcript or article they are citing, just the "fire and fury" elements.
The US, NATO and everyone else with a real military also drafts and simulates all sorts of pre-emptive, attack and defense plans, but that does not mean there is a real intent to engage in those military actions. They also talk up endlessly the military prowess and capability. The US has an entire private media industry around promoting military advanced and capabilities, that's beyond the overt and covert propaganda campaigns.
Why so many are intent to believe that Iran and North Korea are just completely suicidal is ridiculous, that as soon as they have a rock to throw they will, even though it assures a swift and merciless retaliation from superior forces that have been looking for an opportunity to defend themselves. The same can now be said of Venezeula now with 'unconfirmed' reports going around that some general over there has ordered Marco Rubio assassinated.
Iraq wasn't invaded right after 9/11, it takes time to set the scene with selective quoting and memories, the prospect of anthrax attacks and unsubstantiated intelligence reports on assassination attempts of elder statesmen.
The 'transition to democracy and resolving the humanitarian crisis' has yet to be finished in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria or even Ukraine. But we do seem awfully keen to begin new projects in Venezuela and North Korea recently.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday August 15 2017, @05:24PM
On top of which, the media should just give both sides all the credit they deserve for their gesticulations: no publicity.
If Trump and Kim scream at each other in a very dense forest really far from the rest of us, does it make a sound?