North Korean lays down the law

North Korea has ordered their troops to be combat ready and on standby.  The country has announced a satellite launch, and has made it very clear that any interference with that launch will be viewed as an act of war.  This is very concerning.  These launches could actually be missile tests and not satellite launches.  Japanese and U.S. officials have suggested that they could and potentially would shoot down any North Korean missiles.  Also, South Korean and U.S. troops have launched annual war games, which trains and prepares soldiers for combat. The North Koreans have taken it as an advanced aggressive sign, and between this and the threat of their missiles being shot down they have issued a statement.  

"If the enemies recklessly opt for intercepting our satellite, our revolutionary armed forces will launch without hesitation a just retaliatory strike operation not only against all the interceptor means involved but against the strongholds...Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war"

This is potentially a very real and scary situation.  North Korea not only has anti-American sentiments, but also believed to have nuclear weapons.  Could we see another Korean War? I hope not, because this one would be a lot deadlier then the last.  That means South Korea, Japan, the United States, and their allies would get involved along with China and Russia. North Korea has one of the largest and most powerful armies in the world, with over 1.2 million soldiers.  Analysts say that this could be a ploy in order to test the Obama administration, since they are in the midst of defining what their relation ship will be with the North Koreans.  I personally would take this as a very serious and viable threat, and would have to go about it in a very diplomatic way.  The problem is Kim-Jong-il is not the most friendly ruler, and who knows what this Napoleonic-like man is capable of doing.  Hopefully this situation is handled in the correct manner, we will just have to wait and see.

I also wanted to make a quick little note since I just read it, the Japanese Nikkei 225 exchange just reached 26 year lows amidst fears of the global economy.  Analysts are also discussing an unbelievable situation, the dow reaching 5000 and the s&p reaching 500 levels.  This is a complete bearish dream, and a bull nightmare.  I don't think we are going to see those levels, because if we do, I don't think there is any coming back from them.  Tomorrows trading day will be an interesting one, there isn't any indication that things have been changing or that we have hit a turnaround.  Unfortunately I think we are riding a steep slump, and I just can't tell you when its going to be over.  Its like being on the roller coaster from hell and not knowing when the ride is over.  Just remember, cash is king, as long as you remember that you should make it out just fine.