re: Will North Korea ever be liberated?

Really? I did not know that. What do they have?

LINK

The northern side of the Korean peninsula is well known for its rocky terrain with 85% of the country composed of mountains. It hosts sizeable deposits of more than 200 different minerals, of which deposits of coal, iron ore, magnesite, gold ore, zinc ore, copper ore, limestone, molybdenum, and graphite are the largest and have the potential for the development of large-scale mines. After China, North Korea's magnesite reserves are the second largest in the world, and its tungsten deposits are almost the sixth-largest in the world. Still the value of all these resources pales in comparison to prospects which promise the exploration and export of rare earth metals.

Rare earth metals are a group of 17 elements which are found in the earth's crust. They are essential in the manufacture of high-tech products and in green technologies, such as wind turbines, solar panels or hybrid cars. Known as "the vitamins of high-tech industries," REMs are minerals necessary for making everything that we use on a daily basis, like smartphones, LCDs, and notebook computers. Some Rare earth metals, such as cerium and neodymium, are crucial elements in semiconductors, cars, computers and other advanced technological areas. Other types of REMs can be used to build tanks and airplanes, missiles and lasers.

South Korea estimates the total value of the North's mineral deposits at more than $6 trillion USD. Not surprisingly, despite high political and security tensions Seoul is showing a growing interest in developing REMs together with Pyongyang. In 2011, after receiving permission from the Ministry of Unification, officials from the Korea Resources Corp visited North Korea twice to study the condition of a graphite mine. Together with their counterparts from the DPRK's National Economic Cooperation Federation they had working-level talks at the Kaesong Industrial Complex on jointly digging up REMs in North Korea. An analysis of samples obtained in North Korea showed that the type of rare earth metals could be useful for manufacturing LCD panels and optical lenses.

The joint report also revealed that there are large deposits of high-grade REMs in the western and eastern parts of North Korea, where prospecting work and mining have already begun. It also reported that a number of the rare earth elements are being studied in scientific institutes, while some of the research findings have already been introduced in economic sectors. The North built a REM reprocessing plant in Hamhung in the 1990s but has been unable to put the plant into full operation due to power and supply bottlenecks.

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Corkfather

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Your gasbagging in this thread is hilarious but then you say this

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if NK had China and/or Russia's support they could take the SK forces.

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How little do you know about their relationship? The only reason China "supports" NK is because they don't want a massive influx of refugees. This is also why SKorea doesn't stroke the fires. NK refugees find it nearly impossible to assimilate into South Korean or Chinese culture.

Being an economic ally does not equal being an ally that you will help defend with your troops. You think Russia wants North Korea to have a nuclear weapon? Despite all the rhetoric between Putin and Obama do you really believe Russia gains more economically from North Korea than they do from the US? Oh yeah, China really wants to get into a war that might drag the US in, it's not like China and the US are economic partners or anything

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Oh yeah, China really wants to get into a war that might drag the US in, it's not like China and the US are economic partners or anything

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This. A conflict between SK and NK would mean terrible strain between the US and Chinese trade. Despite China owning an overwhelming amount of American bonds, their economy is driven by American import. It is a "we need them" and "they need us" relationship.

China maintains their "alliance" with NK solely to prevent such a conflict from occurring. Xi Jinping is usually the first to condemn NK threats of war.

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I find the whole N. Korea thing fascinating that a people has been kept so oppressed and in the dark about how the world has changed in the last 50 years. When those people truly get a glimpse of how time has passed them by they'll drag that pudgy bastard down the street and take care of him themselves, but that's going to take time and information.

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That is kind of what is happening now. As more information and goods from the outside world slips into NK, the people are becoming more aware and intolerant.

Plus, Kim Jong Un isn't quite as revered as his father and grandfather. That's probably why we've been hearing about so many purges and the expansion of the labor camps.

Hell, you can see video online of citizens talking back to soldiers, disobeying their commands, and openly defying laws with no repercussions.

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I'd see unification happening before liberation, and by unification I mean the North retaking the South

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This will never happen in anyone's lifetime.

I did not know that.

The people have trouble realizing that because there is no outside information available.

North Korea's BS is affecting outsiders too. For example, commercial airliners have to fly completely around the country because they cannot enter NK's airspace.

Who, other than the citizens of NK or its neighbors, should rightly give a frick?

I certainly don't.

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Ive always wondered why pieces of shite like Kim Jong Il arent taken out by a "random" sniper? One bullet could literally change the future for that country. If we could guarantee that the sniper would remain anonymous, why wouldnt we try? We definitely have the capability so that's not even a question. Is it for fear of retaliation to our own President?

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Here's why that won't happen: whoever breaks NK owns it and no one wants to own NK, not even SK.