NKorea threatens 'nuclear deterrence' over drills

[DEDixon 39]

HANOI, Vietnam – North Korea threatened Saturday to mount a powerful nuclear response to upcoming joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, calling the exercises an "unpardonable" provocation on top of wrongly blaming Pyongyang for the sinking of a South Korean warship.

North Korea's powerful National Defense Commission, led by leader Kim Jong Il, warned that its troops would counter the move to hold military maneuvers involving a nuclear-armed U.S. supercarrier with a "retaliatory sacred war."

there is more here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100724/ap_on_re_as/as_asean

NK's threats are always empty. one would think they would realize that since they never act out overtly, they are viewed as cowards. but, they keep making themselves into fools... bigger and bigger fools.

anyone think they'll do anything overtly?

[slim 1,533]

anyone think they'll do anything overtly?

I think the older Kim gets, the less and less he has to lose.

We would've taken him out years ago except S. Korea's economy would collapse if N. Korea folded. We've learned from Iraq that a bad dictator who keeps a lid on things is better than no dictator at all.

I personally believe we're going to see one of two things -

1. There will be a catastrophic short-lived war followed by years of problems.

2. Amicable long-term re-unification of the two Koreas.

What exacerbates the whole Korea situation is we're seldom on the same page with China and Russia. Throw in Iran as another nuclear oddball and you've got ripe conditions for global meltdown. N. Korea really is scary. It wouldn't take much to get that whole side of the world caught in a sh!tstorm.

Another thing most folks don't think about is Al Qaeda (or whoever) increasing activity as well. Whenever we're looking one way, the others try to sneak in the back door.

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

lots of bluster - it's common knowledge that using nukes on us military will result in a very large glass parking lot.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I think its more likely that some sort of Chinese puppet government will take hold when Kim kicks the bucket. His son won't be able to stabilize the country and China will use the new puppet gov. to further its claims in region.

[DEDixon 39]

given the missiles and arms NK has on the border which is only a few miles from seoul, SK and US and whoever else would have to mount an out of this world first strike to lessen damage to seoul. the border area would have to be leveled, every inch of it, for miles inland.

[William33 110]

Idle threat. Kim Jong-ill(sic)realizes that his country will be wiped off the map, if he employed the nukes.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

given the missiles and arms NK has on the border which is only a few miles from seoul, SK and US and whoever else would have to mount an out of this world first strike to lessen damage to seoul. the border area would have to be leveled, every inch of it, for miles inland.

If the North launched an all out attack by conventional means, there would be no chance of stopping it without the use of nuclear weapons.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Idle threat. Kim Jong-ill(sic)realizes that his country will be wiped off the map, if he employed the nukes.

Its idle so long as he actually cares about his country.

[slim 1,533]

I think its more likely that some sort of Chinese puppet government will take hold when Kim kicks the bucket. His son won't be able to stabilize the country and China will use the new puppet gov. to further its claims in region.

S. Korea and the US are hard at work on this strategy as well.

given the missiles and arms NK has on the border which is only a few miles from seoul, SK and US and whoever else would have to mount an out of this world first strike to lessen damage to seoul. the border area would have to be leveled, every inch of it, for miles inland.

That is the plan. There's a pre-emptive strike designed to basically stop it before it happens. Regardless, it's going to be very messy, very horrible, and it will effect the whole world. We were a cunthair away from going to war with China last time... I hope we're on the same team this go 'round.

For a fun read, head over to globalsecurity.org and read the OPLAN for the Korean penninsula.

Idle threat. Kim Jong-ill(sic)realizes that his country will be wiped off the map, if he employed the nukes.

That's what makes it more scary as he gets older. Once he reaches that point of "nothing to lose" he might just throw the dice.

My hope of all hopes is he'll be lying on his deathbed and make a phone call to start re-unification.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If the North launched an all out attack by conventional means, there would be no chance of stopping it without the use of nuclear weapons.

Wouldn't be ironic if the "conventional" Ohios were secretly carrying Tridents for a quick strike option?

Edited July 24, 2010 by Sousuke

[William33 110]

Its idle so long as he actually cares about his country.

Agreed. Current western thinking is that he does care.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Wouldn't be ironic if the "conventional" Ohios were secretly carrying Tridents for a quick strike option?

I'm sure that is quite possible. Nukes would be absolutely necessary to stop NK on the Korean peninsula. It couldn't be done by conventional means. They would overrun SK in a few days.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Agreed. Current western thinking is that he does care.

I think he does too, lets hope if he ever doesn't his subordinates remove him quickly.

Edited July 24, 2010 by Sousuke

[William33 110]

I think he does too, lets hope if he ever doesn't his subordinates remove him quickly.

[DEDixon 39]

If the North launched an all out attack by conventional means, there would be no chance of stopping it without the use of nuclear weapons.

right and that is why i think we would have to strike first. we would never strike though if they aren't moving arms and troops around in a way never seen before (guessing troop movements to prepare for real war would look different than a war exercise). i'm sure we can easily tell if they are preparing for war. they have to know that preparing in a big way is a mistake in and of itself.... could cause SK and the US to act prematurely.