By The North Korean army should form part of peacekeeping forces to help reconstruct war-ravaged Afghanistan ? if Pyongyang normalizes relations with the United States, an opposition lawmaker said Thursday.
In his speech at the New York-based nonprofit organization Korea Society, Rep. Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party (DP) suggested that the United States considers the idea as part of efforts to resolve pending issues.
Stressing that it is time for the Obama administration to strengthen cooperation with other countries, Song said, “If the North Korean army joins the peacekeeping activity in Afghanistan, the United States could improve relations with other countries.
I’ve been very preoccupied with idiocy surrounding US politics the last few months —- so this one made me laugh out loud and was a nice change of pace….
9:06 am on January 22nd, 2009 1
Thanks. I just spit my Kool-Aid all over my iMac monitor.
12:25 pm on January 22nd, 2009 2
I am now taking bets as to how many US senators will sign on to the Idea. Do I hear 20?
1:16 pm on January 22nd, 2009 3
When the Pigs fly.
Who knows, maybe KPA would not have much problem getting volunteers. Just promised them that they can eat at the American Mess Hall or even MREs.
1:18 pm on January 22nd, 2009 4
They'd probably use chem/bio munitions on the Taliban.
1:59 pm on January 22nd, 2009 5
First of all what peacekeeping is going on Afghanistan?
Second of all, I have to wonder what the reaction at the Korea Society was when this guy briefed this?
Third, yes Gerry you are right that there are probably plenty of people in Congress who think this is actually a great idea despite the absurdity.
8:23 pm on January 22nd, 2009 6
DPRK Peacekeepers in Afghanistan…
From the Korea Times (via ROK Drop): “The North Korean army should form part of peacekeeping forces to help reconstruct war-ravaged Afghanistan ? if Pyongyang normalizes relations with the United States, an opposition lawmaker said Thursday.” Thi…
1:54 am on January 23rd, 2009 7
It IS a good idea. Heres why:
NK has some very elite units but none of them have overseas experience and this or ANY other 'Peacekeeping" operation might be a good idea. The UN, for instance, has had a lot of trouble finding enough troops for Darfur or the Congo. Or at least troops that are willin g and able to fight.
Under UN or NATO auspices these NK troops would become exposed to what is really happening in the world. New ways of thinking etc etc.
In fact why not joint operations with South Korea?
And yes, I know that years ago the NKs trained some zimbabwean troops who subsequently gained a reputation for brutality but maybe thats what is needed in some of the worlds hotspots.
Troops willing to enagege the enemy.
5:22 am on January 23rd, 2009 8
Well, the North Koreans and Taliban could exchange opium-growing techniques…
10:06 am on January 23rd, 2009 9
I think the risk of defections and requests for political asylum would be to much for North Korea to handle, including the possiblity of gaining information about the outside world that they would bring back.
3:15 pm on January 23rd, 2009 10
At least the Taliban would have someone in official uniform on their side when the shooting started – and the US/UN would have people it could rightfully label POWs per the Geneva Convention….
7:50 pm on January 23rd, 2009 11
Gerry,
The KJI regime will make sure that only soldiers who are very loyal can go overseas just like those contruction workers in the Middle East. They will make sure that only soldiers with good Songbun (family background) are eligible for deployment. Of course, their family members will become hostage along with all their peers who have co-signed for them on their loyalty. Once they defect, then their family members and peers will go straght to one of those concentration camps.
12:47 am on January 24th, 2009 12
It would depend on how integrated NK forces would be. Would they be autonomous?
Would US/NATO be in "charge" or at least as observers/advisors?
There could be an attempt to convince Sk to join with NK in a joint deployment.
There are possibilites here and a plethora of problems.
There always are.
2:26 am on January 25th, 2009 13
This is a laughable crack pipe dream…..It’s a brain-dead idea — about like saying, “If we could make humans flap their wings and fly, we could cut down on global warming by cutting down on the need for cars….”