South Korea Deploys Killer Robot In DMZ

shikaisi writes "Not content with just killing people in computer games, South Korea has gone one better and is deploying remotely controlled sentry robots on the border with the north. According to the article 'If the command centre operator cannot identify possible intruders through the robot's audio or video communications system, the operator can order it to fire its gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.'"

Comments

Good

[elrous0]

Maybe the U.S./South Korea can deploy robots of our own and put less humans in harm's way. And rather than risk a major incident with every patrol, both sides can just sit back and play a glorified videogame. It's sure to beat what happens when the humans there interact.

Re:Good

[cusco]

Hell, he knows how to make food. That's a pretty valuable skill in NK at this point, he's probably worth more to their gov't than a programmer stupid enough to defect.

Re:Good

[kalirion]

Until the robots decide that rather than killing each other for no reason, it would be in their best interest to band together against a common foe?

Re:Good

[Nadaka]

One of the poorest countries on earth is a nuclear power with medium range ballistic missiles capable of devastating Japan and short range artillery capable of devastating S. Korea. This is a country that the US and S. Korea are still officially at war with, and they occasionally attack. I forgot to mention that it is run by a delusional god emperor known for kidnapping TV personalities from other nations for his own personal entertainment.

Where is James Bond when you need him.

Re:Good

[ffreeloader]

If the USA would give the DPRK the peace treaty they've been wanting for years, it wouldn't be much of a problem. Of course, then we would have one fewer excuse to maintain a couple hundred military bases across the globe.

Yeah, that's a great idea. Let's trust someone who will not only deny his own people basic human rights, but starves them to death by the millions as a matter of policy. Let's give him access to more military and financial assets as there's no possibility he will use them as he has used the assets he now possesses.

Re:Good

[Oligonicella]

"We've got enough surveillance to see if they've taken a peaceful stance before signing a treaty."

Which is why we haven't signed a peace treaty with them.

"Certainly the current strategy isn't doing any good for anyone but the military."

The entire Korean peninsula is not embroiled in a bloodbath: civilians and neighbors benefit.

So what's new? Predators, anybody?

[Anonymous Coward]

The US has been using predator drones that can kill for quite a while. What's new here? Perhaps there is a need for a real discussion about automated systems that can deploy lethal force, but this "news" just isn't all that new.

Re:So what's new? Predators, anybody?

[SpongeBob Hitler]

As a non-native English speaker. I wonder what's the meaning of "demilitarized", that's what is news to me.

It's one of those bizarre terms we have in Newspeak, kind of like "police action".

Pictures?

[slyrat]

This would be a much better article if there were any sort of pictures of said robot. I'm more interested in what kind of construction / form it is in.

North Korea was first

[SloWave]

North Korea deployed robots a long time ago. They are called North Koreans.

Re:DMZ

[Graham J - XVI]

Perhaps TFA's title shouldn't say "in" then...

Re:I sure hope that's a misprint.

[LWATCDR]

Nope they learned them in a real bloody and brutal war.
The DMZ is a no man's land. It is full of mines and signs telling you to keep out. Pretty much it is a kill or be killed situation.
Maybe you missed NK sinking a SK ship with a torpedo?

Do not go in the DMZ and you should be okay.
Well until NK pushes too hard or they figure they have nothing to lose. Or if they just snap. Or if they think the US will not intervene, Or they think China will intervene on their side. Or if the moon is full and the dictator is drunk.
Then all bets are off.