The Real Threat From North Korea

SpaceWar.com ^ | 07/07/06 | by Anthony H. Cordesman

[garbageseeker]

The same North Korean ICBM efforts that throw a rock at Alaska can throw a large nuclear warhead at every ally the United States has in Northeast Asia. Japan and South Korea are not only close allies, they are critical trading partners. The risk of a war in this part of the world would inevitably threaten Chinese involvement in some form, and possible bloc trade with much of China for an extended period even if China did not become involved. Our troops and our bases in most of Asia would be at hazard as well.

Americans need to stop thinking parochially and selfishly and start thinking strategically. North Korea does not have to be able to hit the United States with meaningful nuclear threats to do much to deter or damage the United States

[garbageseeker]

North Korea has artillery - some of it possibly loaded with chemical or biological weapons - in range of the entire city, and we would not be able to take it out fast enough to save the city.

They have about 12,000 pieces of artillery along the DMZ

[RightWhale]

The world economy, if there is such a thing, is hugely complex and interrelated; maybe better call it world commerce. If any part of it becomes disabled, the disruption would not be so much like puncturing a balloon or bubble as housing bubble aficionados seem to think, but like dropping a bridge in LA. Traffic would go around, but not as efficiently.

[garbageseeker]

That is why we need to stop these people and expose them for who they are.

[garbageseeker]

Excellent post!

[John Lenin]

China needs a wakeup call. It's time to slow their economy down.

[MinorityRepublican]

But didn't China had their trains stolen by thr crazy North Koreans? It was claimed to be part of "aid"

[garbageseeker]

That would be very difficult because our economy is so intertwined with their economy. Any slow down in the Chinese economy would be disasterous for our economy.

[garbageseeker]

I cannot believe anything what comes out of the Chinese or North Korean foreign ministry office. Who knows what really happened.

[John Lenin]

No it wouldn't. The trade is so one sided in China's favor that we would probably gain jobs.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Iran and PDRK will both be toast by 2009 so that, like Bill post-Cold War and Gulf I, Hillary has nothing to do for eight years.

[garbageseeker]

You cannot forget that the Chinese hold a lot of the U.S. treasury bonds that pay for the interest in the national debt. If they dump those bonds, it will be a financial disaster for the United States. The U.S. will lose its ability to pay its bills.

[alarm rider]

Move the 30,000 US troops away from the DMZ. Give NK a warning, and follow up with the Chinese.

The next time they light one off, destroy the launch sites and keep a couple of carriers, some submarines and some air resources on station.

Arm the Japanese.

[John Lenin]

The Chinese have hugh problems with the underclass in the country. We hold the aces in the deck.

[garbageseeker]

Those 30,000 U.S. troops are essential to keep South Korea from being over run by the hordes of North Korean troops. Plus, we are technically still at war with North Korea and will be seen as a sign of weakness by the North Koreans if they are removed. We must show to the world that we are willing to kick some North Korean butt all the way to the Yalu River.

[John Lenin]

I hate to tell you this but bombing the launch sites is asinine and something only a Clintonoid would recommend. You bomb them before they get nukes not afterwords. Go back to DU.

[garbageseeker]

They may have problems with their underclass but they are flush with American cash.

[John Lenin]

I think it's dumb too to build up China like we are but in the long run it may turn them into a democracy.

[garbageseeker]

I agree its dumb to build China but they have 1 billion consumers.Like turning a battleship its very slow and it will take some time. The more the people become addicted to money and personal goods they will make the final plunge to become a democracy. Hong Kong is a huge thorn in their side because the amount of trade that goes on.

[garbageseeker]

Bump

[justa-hairyape]

But didn't China had their trains stolen by thr crazy North Koreans? It was claimed to be part of "aid".

I don't buy the train story or anything a Korean Starving Chicom Thug says. If China cannot take its trains back from North Korea, China has to be considered to be a paper tiger.