Is the North Korean missle tests that serious?

[sodaseller]

It is serious. Even presuming NK demonstrated the ability to attack the US, it likely never would. Of course "likely" is not comforting in the case of a nation that develops the ability to deliver a nuclear warhead, which they are plainly far from.

But the more pressing threat is twofold - NK seems intent on proliferating missile technology, which is tehor real technical strength. I am glad to see that the long range attempt failed but even failure in instructive and may help them further hone their efforts.

More significantly, NK remains a threat to SK and Japan, both allies that are skittish because NK is far more hostile to both, esp. Japan. Japan no longer wishes to rely ion US protection and is therefore developing their own defense capability. That may be a good thing, at least as far as burden sharing, but as Asia becomes where most of the planet's economic growth occurs, we are becoming a lesser player there

 

[N.Bailey]

Don't get me wrong, I do think they could become a threat in the future, but IMO, they're just trying to get attention right now.

I wish a statement would be made that ____ (fill in the blank) countries will intervene and stand together if/when it becomes necessary should N. Korea launch an attack on any other country.

IMO, right now, we're all cowering to him by giving him a podium.

 

[4greatboys]

Oh heck yes its serious. Their leader would def not have a problem shooting off some missles our way (once they can make it). We should not take it lightly, that guy is bad news.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Heck yes, it's serious. NK hates the US and all it's people. Not to mention Japan and all our smaller allies in the area. They blame the US for all of it's problems. Gee. Kinda sounds like Hitler blaming the Jewish for Germany's problems.

Although I can see to a very small extent that we did cause a small amount of them, they, themselves caused the major problems they have.

The leader is demented and will use whatever is at his disposal to strike at the US and our allies whenever he thinks he can.

 

[dcentity2000]

North Korea is not an amicable country and has nuclear warheads, so it is a rather prominent problem.

Russia scares me more though.

President Putin never smiles. He's ex-KGB and extremely good at unarmed combat. He's building bigger and more powerful nuclear submarines, has the most powerful warheads on earth (apparently) and lots of them.

More scarily, he's extremely intelligent and completely ruthless.



Rich::

 

[sodaseller]

North Korea is not an amicable country and has nuclear warheads, so it is a rather prominent problem.

Russia scares me more though.

President Putin never smiles. He's ex-KGB and extremely good at unarmed combat. He's building bigger and more powerful nuclear submarines, has the most powerful warheads on earth (apparently) and lots of them.

More scarily, he's extremely intelligent and completely ruthless.



Rich::

Just look into his eyes - he can be trusted

 

[LuvDuke]

North Korea is not an amicable country and has nuclear warheads, so it is a rather prominent problem.

Russia scares me more though.

President Putin never smiles. He's ex-KGB and extremely good at unarmed combat. He's building bigger and more powerful nuclear submarines, has the most powerful warheads on earth (apparently) and lots of them.

More scarily, he's extremely intelligent and completely ruthless.

Rich::

Just look into his eyes - he can be trusted

He who will not be named looked into Putin's eyes and saw the measure of his soul.

Came as a complete surprise to those who didn't think the head of the KGB even had a soul.

 

[MAKmom]

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

Yes I agree.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

North Korea is not an amicable country and has nuclear warheads, so it is a rather prominent problem.

Russia scares me more though.

President Putin never smiles. He's ex-KGB and extremely good at unarmed combat. He's building bigger and more powerful nuclear submarines, has the most powerful warheads on earth (apparently) and lots of them.

More scarily, he's extremely intelligent and completely ruthless.



Rich::

Russia combined with Iran scares the bejeebers out of me. There are many ties between the two nations.

 

[Charade]

Heck yes, it's serious. NK hates the US and all it's people.

That's not true (or he's lying). In an interview with Madeline Albright he stated he loved American movies and Michael Jordon. He even had picks for the Oscars. She is quoted (MA is in 2000) saying he's not a nut. Oh really??

Although I can see to a very small extent that we did cause a small amount of them, they, themselves caused the major problems they have.

We did? How so?

 

[sodaseller]

That's not true (or he's lying). In an interview with Madeline Albright he stated he loved American movies and Michael Jordon. He even had picks for the Oscars. She is quoted (MA is in 2000) saying he's not a nut. Oh really??

I don't know what he thinks of the American people but I doubt there is any deep hatred. Part of the dynastic trannical mythology is that the US initiated the Korean War and constantly tries to undermine NK independence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2821221.stm

Not many people can claim to have spent much time with the enigmatic North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il.
But South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his wife, Choe Eun-hui, have that dubious distinction.


They not only knew him well but spent several years living in his summerhouse. They were not his friends or house guests - they were his prisoners.
Choe Eun-hui, an actress now in her late 60s, was the first to arrive after being kidnapped in Hong Kong by Kim Jong-il's secret agents in 1978.

The memories of that traumatic event still haunt her today.

"I was really terrified. It was so frightening," she said.

"I was in such a worried state I couldn't eat or drink anything for ages. Finally I fainted and later learnt that they had injected me with some sort of sedative."

She was taken to Hong Kong's docks, bundled aboard and taken on an eight-day trip to Pyongyang.

Her husband immediately flew from Seoul to Hong Kong to look for his wife, and was himself kidnapped soon after.

"Someone suddenly pulled a sack over my head and I couldn't see anything or breathe properly," he said.


Private film-maker

It was not long before the reason for their kidnapping was made clear.

"Kim Jong-il later confessed to me that the reason he kidnapped my wife first was because he wanted me to come and make films for him," Shin Sang-ok said.

Kim Jong-il is film mad. Soon after the couple arrived in Pyongyang he took them for a private tour of his film library, which holds more than 15,000 movies.

Keen to add to them, he placed $2.5m into an Austrian bank account and told Mr Shin that the money would be available for him to make "good" films.

Initially the director was not sure what the North Korean leader meant by a "good" film, until he took note of what he watched most often. Top of the list was Rambo, followed by Friday the Thirteenth and all the James Bond movies.

Over the next two years Mr Shin made more than 20 films, many of them propaganda tales commissioned by the man himself.

Meanwhile his wife was given a large room in the leader's scenic summerhouse overlooking the river.

In a series of charm offensives Kim Jong-il went out of his way to make her feel welcome by bringing her piles of expensive clothes and Western cosmetics.

I am suddenly seeing a solution to this impasse. Maybe we could trade him Jerry Bruckheimer and some other Hollywood types in exchange for him giving up his nuclear program. I'm seeing win-win all around

 

[eclectics]

I am suddenly seeing a solution to this impasse. Maybe we could trade him Jerry Bruckheimer and some other Hollywood types in exchange for him giving up his nuclear program. I'm seeing win-win all around

I wouldn't mind giving up Tom Cruise. They could debate the merits of Scientology and Kim Jong can give him pointers on the next Mission Impossible movie.

 

[ChrisFL]

Send him Arec Bardwin!!

(sorry, that only makes sense if you've seen "Team America")

 

[paigevz]

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.

My cousin is a naval officer stationed in Japan. I am VERY nervous, for him and about it in general. We were to visit him in March, if there are "actions" against or from N. Korea at that time, I will rethink it. I think they were testing the waters and wanted/expected to be called out for it.

 

[Charade]

Send him Arec Bardwin!!

(sorry, that only makes sense if you've seen "Team America")

And Hons Breeex...

 

[Charade]

I am suddenly seeing a solution to this impasse. Maybe we could trade him Jerry Bruckheimer and some other Hollywood types in exchange for him giving up his nuclear program. I'm seeing win-win all around

Well, since he's done with POTC 1, 2 and 3, ok.

 

[dcentity2000]

Send him Arec Bardwin!!

(sorry, that only makes sense if you've seen "Team America")

I was waiting for that to come up

Herro!



Rich::

 

[LuvDuke]

I don't know what he thinks of the American people but i doubt there is any deep hatred. Part of the dynastic trannical mythology is tthat teh US initiated te hKorean War and constantly tries to undermine NK independence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2821221.stm





I am suddenly seeing a solution to this impasse. Maybe we could trade him Jerry Bruckheimer and some other Hollywood types in exchange for him giving up his nuclear program. I'm seeing win-win all around

I remember when Leonid Brezhnev was thrilled to meet Chuck Connors. Even gave him a bear hug.

Oooo, maybe we can send Rush Limbaugh to NK and Limbaugh and "Bad Hair Day" can swap Viagara. After all, "Bad Hair Day's" missile did fail.

 

[Teejay32]

That's not true (or he's lying). In an interview with Madeline Albright he stated he loved American movies and Michael Jordon. He even had picks for the Oscars. She is quoted (MA is in 2000) saying he's not a nut. Oh really??

"Crazy like a fox", maybe...

 

[DWDreams]

I think it's a bigger deal than we know, and a much bigger deal than we even want to know.