North Korea threatens US with a pre-emptive nuclear strike.

Duff-Man · 1 Apr 2013 at 21:57

Balddog said:
Yes but the US should be above that IMO. We constantly hear how crazy these guys are and yet we do stuff like trying to out macho them. Its silly and unnecessary imo.

It's always a balance.

Even assuming the NK leadership appreciates the military superiority of the US, letting them "run rampage" with rhetoric, and with artilliery attacks against disputed islands, or submarine attacks against South Korean shipping, is not exactly ideal. Sending a (non-violent) message that such action will no longer be tolerated can save many lives in the long run.

Taking the luxury to look back into history for a second... When Hitler's forces invaded the Rhineland in 1936, the senior officers had orders to retreat immediately if they encountered any resistance from France or Britain. They did not, and this only emboldened Hitler's expansionist goals. We all know how that turned out.

I'm not trying to draw a direct parallel here, but surely you must appreciate that letting a despotic dictator know that his planned (and in this case explicitly stated) aggression will not be tolerated can prevent more drastic action in the future?

Firestar_3x · 1 Apr 2013 at 22:00

Malevolence said:
Cry 'Havoc', and let slip the eggs of war!

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/01/world/asia/us-north-korea-radar/index.html

That is epic!

willhub · 1 Apr 2013 at 22:28

We should just squat on NK now and let rip.

Freddie1980 · 1 Apr 2013 at 23:48

Mr_White said:
Is your old manager dead then?

It wouldn't surprise me if he was given all the salt and fat that was pounding around his body.

theleg · 2 Apr 2013 at 00:18

Duff-Man said:
It's always a balance.

Even assuming the NK leadership appreciates the military superiority of the US, letting them "run rampage" with rhetoric, and with artilliery attacks against disputed islands, or submarine attacks against South Korean shipping, is not exactly ideal. Sending a (non-violent) message that such action will no longer be tolerated can save many lives in the long run.

Taking the luxury to look back into history for a second... When Hitler's forces invaded the Rhineland in 1936, the senior officers had orders to retreat immediately if they encountered any resistance from France or Britain. They did not, and this only emboldened Hitler's expansionist goals. We all know how that turned out.

I'm not trying to draw a direct parallel here, but surely you must appreciate that letting a despotic dictator know that his planned (and in this case explicitly stated) aggression will not be tolerated can prevent more drastic action in the future?

Well, we have two issues really..The first being the big talk of the north koreans and thats what ive been trying to address. That the americans shouldnt rise to the bait and sink to the level of the NKs willy waving contest.

The second is the actual attacks, yes you are right. but, and i hate to say this, the south koreans(or the previous government at least) were willing to overlook things in order to avoid full on war. imo for financial reasons. I also believe this is why you wont see the NKs hitting any US targets, they know that the US wont just sit there and take it.

Tefal · 2 Apr 2013 at 00:30

Balddog said:
I also believe this is why you wont see the NKs hitting any US targets, they know that the US wont just sit there and take it.

havn't they sunk/captured american ships and killed americans repetedly over the last decade or so?

wazza300 · 2 Apr 2013 at 00:34

aint they got anything better to do like building roads/schools n houses? so much wasted money on nukes

Mickie · 2 Apr 2013 at 00:36

Does anyone know for sure what NK have ? everyone seems to know what weapons they have and im just left wondering how the whole world knows ? do they currently let anyone in the country to investigate their current affairs.

theleg · 2 Apr 2013 at 00:36

Tefal said:
havn't they sunk/captured american ships and killed americans repetedly over the last decade or so?

No.

The last american they killed was in 1994 and was the pilot of a helicopter flying several miles inside north korea. He died when the helicopter was shot down, the copilot survived.

Prior to that i believe the last death was the tree incident in the mid 70s.

Tefal · 2 Apr 2013 at 02:25

Balddog said:
No.

The last american they killed was in 1994 and was the pilot of a helicopter flying several miles inside north korea. He died when the helicopter was shot down, the copilot survived.

Prior to that i believe the last death was the tree incident in the mid 70s.

your right sorry the ship incident was in the 70's too, thoguht it as much more recent.

probaly getting it confused with the south korean ship they sunk recently iirc.

Rroff · 2 Apr 2013 at 02:49

Mickie said:
Does anyone know for sure what NK have ? everyone seems to know what weapons they have and im just left wondering how the whole world knows ? do they currently let anyone in the country to investigate their current affairs.

Theres a ton of different ways the information is obtained, beyond the scope of a forum post really. They buy a lot from russian, chinese, etc. sources (not necessarily official ones), they regularly do big military parades of which images eventually get out, deserters (not always the most reliable source), satellite imagery and many more ways.

englishpremier · 2 Apr 2013 at 09:51

Rroff said:
Theres a ton of different ways the information is obtained, beyond the scope of a forum post really. They buy a lot from russian, chinese, etc. sources (not necessarily official ones), they regularly do big military parades of which images eventually get out, deserters (not always the most reliable source), satellite imagery and many more ways.

If they are smart the stuff they get out for parades is just for show and is old tech that they wouldn't use.

The shiny new Russian, Chinese, and Iranian stuff could be hidden away.

Defectors are an awful source of information. Wasn't there that one Iraqi defector that basically started the war in Iraq by telling the UK and US whatever they wanted to hear about weapons of mass destruction. He later said that he was lying and Saddam didn't have any.

Edrof · 2 Apr 2013 at 10:01

englishpremier said:
Defectors are an awful source of information. Wasn't there that one Iraqi defector that basically started the war in Iraq by telling the UK and US whatever they wanted to hear about weapons of mass destruction. He later said that he was lying and Saddam didn't have any.

That was the main thrust of the film Green Zone's plot. No idea if it is true or not.

Guerrilla · 2 Apr 2013 at 10:25

englishpremier said:
If they are smart the stuff they get out for parades is just for show and is old tech that they wouldn't use.

And miss the chance to show off for all they're worth... never!

Jono8 · 2 Apr 2013 at 10:58

Mickie said:
Does anyone know for sure what NK have ? everyone seems to know what weapons they have and im just left wondering how the whole world knows ? do they currently let anyone in the country to investigate their current affairs.

One word. Budget. America knows they genuinely could not afford to buy or run the latest tech.

Gonzo0 · 2 Apr 2013 at 11:18

North Korea starting up it's nuclear reactor again since it was decommisioned in 2007:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21999193

doodah · 2 Apr 2013 at 11:29

I would be more worried as a nearby North Korean for the reactor starting up again....it must be so budget and dodgy.

MeEsH BaKkA · 3 Apr 2013 at 09:03

I appears NK are now refusing South Korean workers re-entry into the joint industrial zone in North Korea, shooting you're self in the foot springs to mind.

woppy101 · 3 Apr 2013 at 09:35

This is what happens when you put a child in charge of a country manipulation by his generals

bitslice · 3 Apr 2013 at 09:42

woppy101 said:
This is what happens when you put a child in charge of a country manipulation by his generals

Not unlike the history of our own royal lineage