you wrote:
"This puts the US and Japan in an untenable position. If there is even so much as an interdiction, they will attack the south (Seoul). So the compassion of peaceful nations is used for nuclear and economic negotiation, with a city of ten million people as the bargaining chip. Not to mention the global economic disruption that would result from evacuating from the 38th several clicks south. This is a lose-lose scenario for the US, Japan, and ROK. DPRK does not have much more to lose."
STOP THE POST(lol).
You are playing a fool's game here..the kind they want us to play.
How bout we don't play it for a change?
How bout we announce that we are pulling all of our troops completely OUT OF SK.
We are 'redeploying' our naval fleet off the coast of Japan or Tawain or both.
In other words:.....'we have our folks out...you make a move..and your toast'!!
How's THAT for diplo talk?
Who in the hell ever told you that the US would be 'required' to only move 'south' a few kilometers in the event of a big bang up with NK?
I have to wonder at this point what side of global reality you reside on?
"How's THAT for diplo talk?"
Pretty brazen. Considering that every ally of the US would perceive that WE would willingly compromise their populations and economies, in the event of mass casualties in ROK. And how soon do you think the US could rebuild their economy?
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$965.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$801.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 40.3%
services: 56.3% (2005 est.)
Please do not misunderstand my stance. When Japan, and our other allies in the region, are ready and willing; the events will begin. We can not be hasty, or unprepared. "At a time and place of our choosing". Not DPRK's