Posted on 04/03/2013 5:46:15 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I blame Dennis Rodman.
In a statement published by the official KCNA news agency, the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) said it was formally informing Washington that reckless US threats would be “smashed by… cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means”.
“The merciless operation of (our) revolutionary armed forces in this regard has been finally examined and ratified,” the statement said…
“The moment of explosion is approaching fast,” Thursday’s statement said, adding that a war could break out on the Korean peninsula “today or tomorrow”.
“In view of this situation, the KPA General Staff in charge of all operations will take powerful practical military counteractions in succession,” it said.
Under normal circumstances this is gag material for “Team America 2″ but Ed’s right about the significance of the North kicking South Koreans out of the Kaesong industrial complex. That shows greater seriousness of purpose than usual. Question: Is there any way to deter them short of cataclysmic war? The Pentagon’s sending missile defenses to Guam to show Kim that his chance of hitting U.S. territory is even lower than he thinks, but that’s not really deterrence. If Kim fires something off, it’ll be in the course of fully committing to war with South Korea. He’ll have nothing to lose at that point by taking an extra potshot at America. Typically I’d assume that the way to rein in North Korea is to put pressure on China, but Chinese pressure on NK and Kim’s resulting insecurity probably contributed to the recent escalation. China won’t double down for fear of what Kim might do next. And if Japan and South Korea try to make them double down by declaring that they’ll go nuclear, that might spook Kim into an invasion of the South that he otherwise wouldn’t undertake.
At a minimum, you’d think that the saber-rattling of the last few weeks would put an end to negotiations with NK once and for all, but that could have the same “nothing left to lose” effect on the North Korean leadership’s war plans as regional proliferation would. What now except paying the danegeld again once they ask for it? Is there any sort of preemptive attack (short of a comprehensive nuclear one, which would never happen) that might take out North Korean artillery, at least, before it can do major damage to Seoul? I’m guessing no, and even if there was that wouldn’t stop a North Korean invasion of the South. What’s the game plan now, coach?
Update: Another X factor: What if Kim’s lost control of the military?
There have been defections of small units of North Korean soldiers to China – soldiers who were subsequently turned around and sent back to North Korea, says retired Brig. Gen. Russell Howard, former commander of the 1st Special Forces Group, which has an Asia Focus.
This may seem like a positive development, but it is a problem because it means that Kim may feel the need to reassert his control over the military, by beating the war drum and trying to get his troops to rally around it. The more he needs their support, the harder he might beat the drum.
That assumes that this is all for show. If Kim himself or his handlers fear that the military’s at risk of falling apart, whether through defections, deterioriating materiel, or for other reasons, then they may conclude that they have to attack South Korea now before they lose the capability altogether. And then there’s this:
The concern is that as a favored, privileged son, perhaps he doesn’t realize the seriousness of his actions. “This kid who they have as a leader now is perhaps starting to believe his own press,” Howard says.
“I was fairly certain that his father was rational – or at least had people around him that wouldn’t let him carry out these threats. His grandfather played it to the hilt successfully,” he adds. “I just don’t know with this young Kim.”
He’s young, quite possibly stupid, and also quite possibly drunk on the compulsory adulation he’s getting. All bets are off.
So I guess a sneak attack is not part of the plan.
“finally approval”?
What there is a little group that sits in the Bahamas, they will issue you a permit to drop a nuclear device, you have to pay a deposit?
I seem to remember a little kid by the name of Saddam that shot his mouth off; and got his d*ck knocked in the mud. He was followed by another punk named Osama. Now, little Kimmie wants some.
Damn, I hate to see us involved in yet another skirmish - led by perhaps the most incompetent and corrupt administration in the history of this country. But, I”m not really fond of seeing a radioactive cloud over our soil either.
Sometimes, you just have to do, what you just have to do.
Gee do you think this qualifies as a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, which should justify military action?
It’s a touchy dangerous situation but our bottom line should be regime change and elimination of the nuclear threat.
We should tell the NORKs (and Iran) that if they do anything we’ll take out Iran.
This is a very compelling statement. I'm sure we are all glad that this merciless operation has finally been examined and ratified. Finally.
I agree, but let's start with zero, THEN we can worry about Kim Jun ior!
Sometimes, you just have to do, what you just have to do.
At bottom, the question becomes: How best to respond to this? Clearly, this is a time to ignore little Kim and his provocations. Pointedly ignore him. Never admit that he is a threat. Even while taking all appropriate defensive measures.
Importantly, don't demean him. But, just as importantly, ignore him.
The worst thing we could do is appease him. It will only enable and encourage him -- and others -- to repeat the act.
Don't provoke Kim. Don't appease Kim. Just ignore Kim.
But will this inexperienced, juvenile and immature administration have the sense to adopt this controlled approach?
I think the problem was we only sent Rodman.
If we send Rodman AND Madonna everything will be OK.
I doubt it's the nuclear threat we're really worried about. They are probably many years away from being able to deliver an actual weapon. The real problem with North Korea is what to do with the 25 million half starved, brainwashed people South Korea would inherit after a major conflict - and that we would end up spending a fortune to help. The only real skill most of these people have is how to stay alive in a totalitarian state. As is, the ones that make it to China and South Korea often have no skills and can't function in society. Try to imagine 25 million useless people with their heads full of loony ideas that would have to be deprogrammed before even teaching them the basics of what to do with themselves in a modern economy.
we will also be sending over G-Force with Kim jong un as Mark. if obama would oblige putting on the Zoltar costume, it would really help us out, super thanks....
Lotte Mart needs a new parking lot
If we are not worried about the nuclear threat now, flash forward ten years, as it will become more and more of a problem.
It needs to be eliminated now. Nor should we accept such direct threats from a rogue state.
Grew up in South Florida and during the Cuban Missile Crisis we practiced that. I was 8 or 9. I remember being scared to death. Now I look back and think stupid that was. Like a little desk would protect us from a nuclear attack.
If the Norks somehow manage to deliver and detonate a nuclear device, how will anyone know it was Nork home-brew hardware and not something covertly imported from China or Pakistan?
One thing is certain in my mind. If we have to stop N. Korea with a Nuke, we may as well take out Iran too and let the hair go with the hide.
Whhaaat?
I thought we were going to take care of NK because of Climate Change and because they don’t recognize Gay marriage!
“Try to imagine 25 million useless people with their heads full of loony ideas that would have to be deprogrammed before even teaching them the basics of what to do with themselves in a modern economy. “
Are you talking about North Koreans or the urban dwellers of the USA?
LOL! I guess that does describe both pretty accurately. Now you can understand why South Korea doesn't want to be saddled with them.
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