North Korea: What happens if Kim Jong-un acts on his threats?

Yahoo! News / The Christian Science Monitor ^ | March 29, 2013 | Anna Mulrine

[2ndDivisionVet]

In the event that the 'bellicose rhetoric' of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un turns into something more serious, the opening hours of conflict could be 'pretty ugly,' defense analysts warn.

Veteran North Korea watchers, citing what they see as increasingly troubling signs coming from the dictatorial regime, are voicing concerns that its new young leader, Kim Jong-un, could do something ill-advised, even start a war.

On Friday North Korea renewed what the U.S. has condemned as its “bellicose rhetoric,” saying Kim had ordered the nation’s missile forces to prepare to strike the United States and South Korea.

In response to the prospect of North Korea following through on this and other marginally less dire threats, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that the US military “will unequivocally defend, and [is] unequivocally committed to the alliance with, South Korea.”

But if hostilities were in fact to erupt, how might they play out?

Some former US Special Operations Forces and longtime Korea defense analysts have their own thoughts on what an “unequivocal” US military response could look like, including how US troops would be deployed in the event of a lethal first strike on US and allied military forces by North Korea – precisely the sort of move Mr. Kim has been threatening to make.

What would such a first North Korean move resemble? It might involve small-scale infiltrations using mini-submarines, assassination attempts.....

[2ndDivisionVet]

What about those of us too poor to prepare? Do we count in your calculations?

[SkyPilot]

What happens if Kim Jong-un acts on his threats?

We go to war with a military that has been forced to cut depot maintenance, training, flying hours, procurement, modernization, and readiness since January. Oh, and not to mention retrograde of much needed equipment from Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I was in Korea just a few years ago, we were told that if war broke out, expect massive US, ROK, and civilian casualties in just the first hours of war.

And that is about it.

If we do go to war, here is what America's response will be:

We have become a bloated, dependent, bread and circus nation.

[Black Agnes]

Can you plant a garden? I save seed with my neighbors gardens in mind. Just in case.

[longfellowsmuse]

The US certainly has the capability to turn what is left of NK to ash, that is without question, but how many people here really think the USA has a president willing to lead his people and do what needs to be done?

[Olog-hai]

That sounds very, very likely.

In the judgment, I suspect the talking-to Obama is going to get from a president he frequently invokes (Lincoln) will not at all be what he expected.

[eyedigress]

Exactly. Jung Un will tell the masses that the US has stood down. Unfortunately for them he won’t have a damn thing to show for it.

Kind of a South Park “Canada on Strike” episode.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

If NK gets the first shot off at us, our DHS is itchin’ to use it’s billions of rounds of ammo on us to keep us calm.

[Olog-hai]

We hit them with a memory-altering charm from the Harry Potter series?

[umgud]

how many people here really think the USA has a president willing to lead his people and do what needs to be done?

Probably a rhetorical here on FR.

[BobL]

“What about those of us too poor to prepare? Do we count in your calculations?”

Did you “laugh at us”? I know you sure as heck didn’t. I also know, somehow, you’ll get through.

[Mr. K]

*yawn* we have a large fly-swatter around here somewhere, don’t we?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Mobile home that we rent. I don’t think the landlords would approve, but I might ask.

[Mr. K]

Our first response to ANY aggression should be ‘shock and awe’

[molson209]

The US certainly has the capability to turn what is left of NK to ash, that is without question, but how many people here really think the USA has a president willing to lead his people and do what needs to be done?

no one from Obama Admin even bother to leave their vacations

[ctdonath2]

He’s a drunk with a double barreled shotgun and Tourette Syndrome.
Irritating and ignoreable except he’s gonna kill someone and get killed immediately after.
A true NK attack will turn Seoul to rubble, promptly followed by Pyongyang and the southern NK border. Total combat period about 4 hours.

[Black Agnes]

If any of the other mobile homes have plantings/shrubs around them, just be sure yours looks ‘landscaped’. Eggplants, peppers and Zucchinis are actually pretty plants if maintained. Tomatoes can be grown up a trellis and so can string beans. If they don’t allow it even if you ask nicely, you might still buy some seed (include cooler season seeds like cabbage, broad beans, and peas and if you find a deal, include some packs for neighbors too), put the packages into a couple of nested ziploc freezer bags and freeze them (allow to return to room temp before opening the bags). That way you’ll have an insurance plan. Just in case. If we’re all still here and posting later this summer I’ll send you some. No problem.

[corlorde]

No time to think about it, I’m too busy fighting for gay marriage. You know, the most important issue known to humanity /sarc

[eyedigress]

I think we turned off long-distance calling features for the Norks and they must now use Skype.

[Born to Conserve]

When the chicoms think NK is a real danger, they will take action, and will probably cede NK to SK. There really is no other option better for the chicoms. They’d be much better off with a friendly Korea then they are now.

[BooBoo1000]

If things really heat up, OhBusto, will make another trip to Israel or some other safe place, old Jumbled up Joe Biden, will be left in charge of the store.No telling what he will do probably bomb Australia.