I don’t like the way this is developing, all it will take is for the missile to fail for them to say it was shot down
and launch an attack.
I agree. On one hand, threats from the DPRK are common and usually quite graphic. I recall them threatening to turn Seoul into a ‘sea of fire’ and at one point claiming they could destroy Los Angeles.
But, the political landscape is vastly different this year. Kim Jong-Il may or may not be in control. We have a weak president and a military which would be hard-pressed to project enough manpower to deal with a conventional attack. I see this as a test from the North, but a dangerous test. I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to probe the DMZ when ROK/US troops are running exercises - but an ‘accidental’ skirmish could spiral out of control very quickly.
Dig up an article on No Korea from 10-15 years ago and it is as relevant today as it was when written. Isolated, starving, led by a despot who is as out of sync with reality as he is paranoid, armed to the teeth with antiquated but no less lethal weapons systems. . . . And now they sever communications after issuing a warning that they will retaliate for ANY response to the nuclear capable missile they are about to launch?
Yes; this is some nasty soup for sure.
The entire article is good—especially when read with 15 years of 20/20 hindsight—and page 8 is very good. A Websearch is certainly worth the time.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/940620/archive_011982.htm