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Everyone keeps saying “ohhh what if they get a missile that can reach California”…what if they do? Chinese missiles can reach anywhere in the US, Russian missiles can reach anywhere in the US, but they don’t fire them for the same reason NK won’t, because even if they got every single US air force missile base on the ground in a surprise first strike the US could just retaliate with B2′s, B-52s and Trident Subs and turn NK into a sheet of glass.
When you read up on NK and it’s geopolitics you discover they have this tendency to throw a tantrum or get aggressive when they want aid. They need aid because, contrary to what Richard Boyd Barret and Mr “im pretending to be working class even though I went to a fee paying school and earn a 6 figure income” Paul Murphy say, central economic planning and direct allocation are disasters. So why give them the money I used to wonder, why give into their tantrums, everyone is afraid if the aids totally cut off NK will collapse, nobody wants that.
China does not want it because it = floods of refugees, SK does not want it for same reason. The US does not want it because it means some nukes will go missing that might not be seen again until some NK general makes a fortune selling them to a Saudi prince that gives them to ISIS and next time they’re seen it’s a bright flash in DC or NY or London. They’re not gonna actually fire those missiles, they play insane but they’re not actually insane.
@Ryan Carroll:Makes sense and nice to read an informed comment rather than just making noise for the sake of making a comment but not actually having anything to add to the debate
@Ryan Carroll: fair post, but you refer to NK as “they” isn’t it really just one guy. If he has a melt down on any given day then everyone else does what he says, even though it may mean armageddon
Basically. Whatever your politics, you’d be stupid to believe that the North Korean administration is completely irrational – they don’t want a nuclear war any more than anyone else. But they’ve been living with the threat of an American-backed invasion for 60-odd years, so they’ve made a bit of military grandstanding a central part of their foreign policy. You might argue it’s not the best strategy for bringing the Korean conflict to a permanent resolution but it seems to be keeping them on the map so far.
@Neville Bartos: they might have a hereditary head of state but it’s hard to know how much of an autocrat KJU really is. I suspect he’d have a difficult time declaring war without the support of his generals, for instance.
@Ryan Carroll: To address what you said about giving NK aid, the reason it’s kept going is because the UN don’t want another Korean famine like we saw in the 90s when millions died. That’s why UN food aid will keep coming despite their military aggression.
In fact, the NK regime has been using nuclear tests as a weapon of blackmail in order to force the UN into giving them aid. As you mention, their economy is a shambles, so the only way everyone in the country doesn’t starve is if they threaten and loudmouth their way to humanitarian aid.
@Ryan Carroll: the US probably does want this because a fall of NK means the US are right on the Chinese border destabilising the whole region the same way it’s doing in the Middle East
@Jesus Christ: Hey man, thanks for saving Microsoft Paint. I’ve started the ministry like I promised, mostly just preaching to the junkies outside the office. I have a sweet dog collar and shirt ordered, when it comes I’ll step things up a notch and start a weekly mass.
How many missiles have the USA n others not jus tested bit dropped on other countries?? The US are the only country to use nuclear weapons on civilian targets…North korea have never been involved in a war since the korean war…the US used chemical weapons in Vietnam…the US n UK have illegally invaded and destroyed countries all over the world for years…there is more to fear from so called western countries than anything else in this world…
@Robbie Moles: don’t forget the fact that the US killed 20% of the North Korean population only a few decades ago in a civilian targeted bombing campaign by flattening every settlement area bigger than a small village. And yet you still get idiots that think the North Koreans hate the west because of propaganda.
I think it’s very clear that North Korea doesn’t care about any sanctions, I’m sure the orange man on twitter will inform us on the next plan of action.
Every action has a reaction , go Korea duck the sanctions
They can use they’re midsole defence systems if they did fire one rather than risk a full scale war pm the strength of a potential attack , wmd in Iraq comes to mind . I’d say they will have the battle do , it’ll be the new Vietnam , Iraq , Syria
@The Viking: Why do the US and Japan, and anyone else think for one moment that Kim, takes any notice of them he is laughing at them sanctions mean nothing to him he is going to do what he wants, enough talking done go in and destroy him and his torturous regime or else STFU.
POT…. KETTLE…. BLACK…… I wish them all the best with their Nuclear programme. I dont agree with how he treats his people, but maybe being taken seriously as a super power may advance their economy and be beneficial to improving korean society as a whole. He seems to be the only head of state with a set of big shiny balls. Maybe a lot more world leaders could follow his model and not be bullied by US and EU warlords.
It’s a perfect storm and when China’s leaders are seen as the most sensible,then the rest of us should worry
Nobody else can put pressure on the North Korean leadership.they are beyond the Pale.
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