North Korea

[muddyboots]

I hope this doens't turn into a flame war but the NoKo's have been in the news a lot lately. Anybody see any hope of defusing them before things turn pear shaped?

[mtpopejoy]

Hopefully just more of Kim's sabre rattling/posturing that won't amount to much.
Keeping fingers crossed

[muddyboots]

Dude, they tested a freaking nuke. That's a little more than just saber rattling.

[mtpopejoy]

And they did the same thing in 2006.

Like I said, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays cold and doesn't go hot.

I am more worried about all the missles that are flying around over there. The nukes are scary but do they even have a means of delivering them?

They are also still doing analysis to determine if a nuclear detonation really took place. I know there was the same controversy in 2006 on whether or not a successful detonation took place or if it was considered a, "dud."

I am thinking NK is doing all of this testing and showing signs of restarting their facilities so the UN comes in and says, "we will give you 'x' if you shut her back down."

Like I said, keeping my fingers crossed.

Regards,
Mark

[CAPFlyer]

The question is less whether they can deliver them and more can those whom they're demonstrating the weapons for deliver them. Remember NK is one of the largest suppliers of black market weapons in the world. There is a lot of weight in the argument that this test was more to prove that their nukes work for potential buyers (remember that we intercepted at least one Nuke in transit from NK to Iraq during Desert Storm I).

[mustangdriver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rTvDU5tC_c

Not for young children, some harsh language. But very true.

[cozmo]

...potential buyers...

Yep, I imagine the NK's are even making the Russians and Chinese a little nervous this time.

A ready to blow nuke would net the NK's quite a bit of much needed hard currency.

...(remember that we intercepted at least one Nuke in transit from NK to Iraq during Desert Storm I)...

Can't say as I've ever heard this one.

[CAPFlyer]

I can't remember for sure if it was a complete warhead or parts of one, but there were several reports (and verified sources) that the Navy S.E.A.L.s intercepted a vessel flagged under a 3rd party carrying North Korean weapons and nuclear material (or a complete weapon) in transit to Iraq.

I have excerpts of a report in one of my books on Desert Storm, however it is unfortunately in storage. The intercept got a little news coverage at the time, but I don't remember for certain what the headline was to be able to make a successful internet search.

[Enemy Ace]

From what I've seen their military is something of a joke.... Their antique jets don't fly, nobody has enough food to eat, etc.
So they have a nuclear weapon. What are they going to do with it? They can't use it to invade another country, they don't have the conventional strength.
Don't believe for a second they could invade the south, they don't have the strength or gas to even get going good.
It's apparent they just have the weapon for their own prestige and because they're afraid THEY are going to get invaded.

[Kyleb]

From what I've seen their military is something of a joke.... Their antique jets don't fly, nobody has enough food to eat, etc.
So they have a nuclear weapon. What are they going to do with it? They can't use it to invade another country, they don't have the conventional strength.
Don't believe for a second they could invade the south, they don't have the strength or gas to even get going good.
It's apparent they just have the weapon for their own prestige and because they're afraid THEY are going to get invaded.

I think the implied threat is to the civilians in Seoul and between Seoul and the border. The Norks have a substantial amount of artillery in holes, caves, bunkers, etc. along the border. I suspect it would take days or weeks to eradicate it.

In the meantime, they could create chaos in the civilian population.

Of course, if they ever develop a deliverable nuke with a delivery system, they can threaten not only Seoul, but major cities in Japan as well. Given the long term hatred the Koreans have had for Japan, I'm sure the Norks would love to be in a position to blackmail the Japanese.

[A2C]

A couple of you guys aren't quite on the mark. You are just parroting CNN when the newsman talks about a delivery system. That's just media fluff.

In other words, you can't treat N.K. lightly, the dangerous thing is that the don't care just like Yabbadabbadoo in Iran.

In fact Yabbadabbadoo, wants to start a war, because they think that will create the 14th imom.

Also, NK's test was basically a product sales demonstration for Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. I'll bet they're on waiting list, and they probably are "in bed" with the terrorists as well.

Don't hope for peace like Nelville Chamberlin did, peace comes through strength, and America isn't strong at all right now. Be very wary.

[JDK]

It is difficult to predict the 'logic' or plans of a dictator.

BTW, setting off a nuke IMHO is just about the current definition of 'sabre rattling' if you look at what it meant in history.

...and America isn't strong at all right now. Be very wary.

I'd hate to try and fund what you'd call 'strong'. There has never been another country that has been 'stronger' (breadth, depth and range of military personnel and equipment) in the whole of history than the America is militarily right now. There are issues as to effective use and deployment of that, but thinking 'more' is going to make 'safer' - no.

[Tulio]

From what I've seen their military is something of a joke.... Their antique jets don't fly, nobody has enough food to eat, etc.
So they have a nuclear weapon. What are they going to do with it? They can't use it to invade another country, they don't have the conventional strength.
Don't believe for a second they could invade the south, they don't have the strength or gas to even get going good.
It's apparent they just have the weapon for their own prestige and because they're afraid THEY are going to get invaded.

Never have I been close to a North Korean soldier, so I couldn't say if their military is a joke or not.

What I can tell you is, that during my youth, I had several South Korean instructors, who were respectful and somehow in awe of the physical abilities of the NKs, and in more than one opportunity I detected from them, an underlying sense of fear because as tough as the South Korean soldiers are or were, they considered the NKs to be tougher....


Saludos,


Tulio

[A2C]

JDK wrote:

America is militarily right now. There are issues as to effective use and deployment of that, but thinking 'more' is going to make 'safer' - no.

I disagree, America is weak due to a compromised economy,and trying to hold Iraq together in the face of Iran who is fearless with use of nukes once they get them.

Additionally, Iran's ally is North Korea. If we attack NK, Iran could nuke our troops in Iraq, kapish?

[JDK]

kapish?

All too well. You have a PM.