Norks take PRC fishing boat and crew hostage for the outrageous amount of...

[dead0man]

$100,000

Clearly Dr Evil is involved.

[GMantis]

Those who thought that the North Korean leadership was insane seem to be not too far from the mark...

[DC Al Fine]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

[Benj]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

[John Dibble]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

Most likely it was members of the military who were doing it unsanctioned so they could make some money. In North Korea I don't think there's many others who would have weapons.

[Insula Dei]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

Most likely it was members of the military who were doing it unsanctioned so they could make some money. In North Korea I don't think there's many others who would have weapons.

It must have taken you quite some trouble to introduce gun control into this topic. I can only express my admiration.

[dead0man]

Or perhaps you're reading more into his comment than you needed to?

[John Dibble]

Or perhaps you're reading more into his comment than you needed to?

Yeah, this. I wasn't making a value judgement, just an assessment of whodunit.

[Cory]

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

I;m pretty sure there are no North Korean pirates. The State wouldn't allow it.

[dead0man]

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

I;m pretty sure there are no North Korean pirates. The State wouldn't allow it.

That's been the consensus I've read, it almost had to be state sanctioned.

[Benj]

Not clear if this was the government or unaffiliated North Korean pirates. But, yeah.

I;m pretty sure there are no North Korean pirates. The State wouldn't allow it.

Who knows how much control they have over this sort of activity. I think the rogue-military-agents theory is most likely correct, perhaps people with favor in Pyongyang so they're not being chased, but it's more of the state ignoring it than the state sanctioning it.

[DINGO Joe]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

I'm pretty sure the Chinese hate NK too, it's just they don't any great geopolitical alternatives handy.

[Bacon King]

Everyone in the world hates us except for one ally. Better go piss them off.

I'm pretty sure the Chinese hate NK too, it's just they don't any great geopolitical alternatives handy.

^^^^^

They don't want a massive influx of refugees or a new US ally on their border. They tolerate the North Korean government because there's no way they can press for its removal without running serious risks of one or both of those things happening.