Is the North Korean missle tests that serious?

[Charade]

The markets are going crazy (personally, I think they're a bunch of lemmings but that's another discussion...). The UN is having an "emergency" (doesn't mean they'll do anything other than wave their collective finger at NK) meeting.

What's your opinion?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I think it's a bigger problem than many people realize. The Korean War has never officially ended; a cease-fire was agreed to in 1953 and a peace treaty has never been signed.

It probably wouldn't take too much for Kim Jong Mentally Il to decide to claim the ROK by force. I think the only thing stopping him may be China.

 

[drgnfly30]

Personally, they scare the heck out of me....

 

[CathrynRose]

I think it's a *very* big deal.

It's not good.

 

[Crankyshank]

I think they're a bigger threat to us than Iraq ever was.

 

[Charade]

Well, military action is being talked about as a response to the missle tests.

Would you agree with that?

 

[marybet]

Well, military action is being talked about as a response to the missle tests.

Would you agree with that?

Whose military? And what response? Bush has done such a bad job in Irag, do we really want to let him start another war? But if something isn't done about North Korea that will only lead Iran to think they can do the same.

Tell me again how Bush has made us safer.

 

[Crankyshank]

Well, military action is being talked about as a response to the missle tests.

Would you agree with that?

Not necessarily. I'm all for talking about it and having contingency plans but sending the troops in because of the test could very well be giving N Korea exactly what they wanted. Especially considering how overextended our troops are currently.

 

[Charade]

Whose military? And what response? Bush has done such a bad job in Irag, do we really want to let him start another war? But if something isn't done about North Korea that will only lead Iran to think they can do the same.

Tell me again how Bush has made us safer.

I really didn't start this thread so people can take pot shots at Bush.

You ask "whose military?". I don't know either. It's the UN that this talk is happening. If they agree to a military strike I doubt ground troops would be involved. It should be UN led, if that's at all possible.

You say "if something isn't done", "Iran will think they can do the same".

What's your idea of "something"?

 

[Charade]

To add just a little levity to this, I think it's funny that the missle that failed is called "NO DONG".

Carry on...

 

[Free4Life11]

Well, military action is being talked about as a response to the missle tests.

Would you agree with that?

I think that's a bad idea. One war is enough.

Anyways I thought we were going to testing some massive bomb earlier in June, but apparently it's shelved for now as there is a lawsuit about it. Wouldn't want someone to attack us just for testing a weapon.

 

[marybet]

I really didn't start this thread so people can take pot shots at Bush.

You ask "whose military?". I don't know either. It's the UN that this talk is happening. If they agree to a military strike I doubt ground troops would be involved. It would (and should be UN led, if that's at all possible)

You say "if something isn't done", "Iran will think they can do the same".

What's your idea of "something"?

I don't know how you can discuss NK and not bring Bush's bad decision's into it.

I wish I knew what "something" to do. The men in charge of these countries are not really rational are they? How do we deal with them? I really don't know, if I did maybe I would run for public office.

I think we have found out in Iraq that regime change is not easy. It would be nice to think that the UN could accomplish "something" but I don't really think that will happen. That is the real problem with the test, we don't have a response to it.

 

[eclectics]

North Korea wants, actually needs, some sort of normalcy with the western world to survive. They want direct talks with the US which they apparently are not going to get. In his twisted, demented mind their glorious leader has decided to try and force someone to listen to him. Unfortunately, this will all fall into China's lap. Good in the fact that something might finally get done with NK, and bad in the fact that it is China that will ultimately decide. Is there going to be enough pressure put on China to do what's good for all involved instead of only looking out for themselves, which China is usually prone to do? We'll see. Is NK an actual military threat to us? I don't believe he is that insane, but if I lived in Japan, I might be a tad nervous. If he does go off the deep end, they will feel the first effects.

 

[Goofy4]

Is NK an actual military threat to us? I don't believe he is that insane...

Interesting reading on the subject: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kn.html

 

[drgnfly30]

To add just a little levity to this, I think it's funny that the missle that failed is called "NO DONG".

Carry on...

There was a funny bit on The Daily Show about this

Check it out - the one entitled Kim Possible
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/rob_corddry/index.jhtml

 

[Teejay32]

yes, I think it's serious, because all weapons are serious, no matter how ridiculous the regime looks using them.

 

[LuvDuke]

I really didn't start this thread so people can take pot shots at Bush.

You ask "whose military?". I don't know either. It's the UN that this talk is happening. If they agree to a military strike I doubt ground troops would be involved. It should be UN led, if that's at all possible.

You say "if something isn't done", "Iran will think they can do the same".

What's your idea of "something"?

For once, I'm NOT going to take a potshot at Bush. Been there, done that, the point's been made. However there is no denying the misadventure in Iraq has seriously cut down on our options. That's fact, not politics as usual.

As to my idea of something, I would've bombed the missile launch site with a surgical airstrike or cruise missiles as part of a joint task force (Japan, GB, etc). It would've sent 2 messages to NK AND to China: We have the capability and we're not afraid to use it.

I realize some are saying "whew, we dodged that bullet", but I think we've only dodged it for a short time. Sooner or later, the NK are going to try again. My way would've put that "sooner" off for a bit and sent a message at the same time.

 

[eclectics]

As to my idea of something, I would've bombed the missile launch site with a surgical airstrike or cruise missiles as part of a joint task force (Japan, GB, etc). It would've sent 2 messages to NK AND to China: We have the capability and we're not afraid to use it.

But glorious demented leader has already decreed that if there is any premptive strike, he will begin the real deal. Who's to know he's not capable of doing it or if it's one big bluff. It might come down to a Clint Eastwood moment, "Do you feel lucky"?

 

[VampHeartless]

Definetely a big threat...North Korea WILL attack us once they have the technology. They are not issuing threats, and their leader will act. And I bet it will be in collaboration with Iran.

 

[GeorgeG]

I think this is more serious than a lot of people want to admit. North Korea was identified as a serious theat 10-15 years ago. For many years the former Soviet Union over-shadowed a lot of smaller aggressive countries that were quietly building muscle and now that the Soviet Union no longer seems a threat, the focus is elsewhere. Of course, many of these smaller countries are armed with Russian weapons.

I don't think it's going to come down to whether we should take military action or not for it will likely be determined for us when one or more of these countries takes the first offensive. The United Nations is the last organization we need making decisions for us. Anytime they make a decision to do anything it usually ends up with the United States having to do most of the dirty work and paying for most of it.

Yes, I do think we need to be very concerned about North Korea, Iran, and a bunch of other countries. I din't think we should waste a lot of energy debating with them over what they choose to arm themselves with because they are going to do what they want, anyhow. However, should they choose to use these weapons in any act of aggression, we whould be very well prepared to take decisive action without begging for approval of the United Nations or any other organization.