Second Korean War Suddenly Possible

RealClearPolitics ^ | December 20, 2010 | David Paul Kuhn

[neverdem]

North Korea's propaganda agency recently threatened that if the South Korean "puppet military warmongers" conducts a live-fire artillery exercise in the coming days it will lead to an "unpredictable self-defensive blow" that "will be deadlier than what was made on Nov. 23 in terms of the powerfulness and sphere of the strike."

This North Korean bluster earns rolled eyes in typical times. But these are not typical times.

"I'm worried this is not just another..."

--snip--

The larger back-story is the relationship between China and Japan. Japan, like Taiwan, has announced that it intends to invest in the U.S. missile defense system. China has been expanding its nuclear arsenal as well as its naval presence in the region. Japan, like India and Vietnam, has recently reinforced its defense ties to the United States. It has also pledged to shore up and further-modernize its naval force, noting new regional concerns. The "basic defense force" concept that defined post-World War II Japan has been abandoned. Rising China has become a catalyst for the land of the rising sun to rise again.

It's tempting to exaggerate the myriad threats at play. The Korean peninsula will, most likely, not see a second war in the modern day. The conflict surrounding this tiny island is still more likely to cool than heat up. China and Japan are also a long way from their early-twentieth century tension. But this sobered outlook does not mean that today's East Asian discordance is also regional politics as usual.

Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, told me years ago that "North Korea is a land of lousy options." The bearing question, for the first time in decades, is now whether even the lousy options could soon run out in the eyes of the two Koreas.

[Chickensoup]

christmas day

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Its possible not probable though on the Hermann Kahn’s On escalation ladder its in the “intense crisis” on Rung 10

[steve86]

Of course a war could break out but the Norks said yesterday’s live fire exercise was “not worth responding to”. And didn’t, at least not yesterday.

[TaMoDee]

Nuke’em!

[allmost]

The refugees would be unfathomable. This is china's and russia’s creation, they need (needed) to step up. Human meat being sold on the streets in north korea as we speak.

[Georgia Girl 2]

The North Koreans are agitators. They had the same MO when I was 8 years old. They are still at it. Mainly because when they throw a temper tantrum they usually manage to get something out of it. They are not going to start a war and they are not going to Nuke anybody. The best thing the US can do is ignore them and stay away from the 6 party talks. Let the Chinese, the South Koreans and the Japanese handle it. But no, Hillary Clinton has to send Bill Richardson over there to reward the North Koreans with some backdoor offer. Its a total mistake.

[llevrok]

IIRC, the war never ended. It;s been (officially) a cease fire since the 50’s

[2ndDivisionVet]

Where would they get the fuel and ammunition for a protracted war? The ROK (S. Korean) military is one of the finest and strongest in the world. We can all wish that somebody else (almost anyone) was president of the U.S. at this point in time, but the congress is about to radically change and military are still who they are.

[allmost]

We should stop giving them anything. It only supports the current state of inhumanity.

[grey_whiskers]

Human meat being sold on the streets in north korea as we speak.

Source, please?

[samadams2000]

Let them launch missles over Japan, let them build nuke plants, let them extort money from us, let them constantly threaten us, let them sink a boat, let them sink a sub, let them launch missles into a civilian neighborhood.....

[liberty or death]

The war never ended. Just took a long nap. There will always exist evil men like Kim who will force war upon nations desiring peace. Peace time nations that become prosperous breed sinful natures in man thus God uses the likes of Kim to wake us up and turn our hearts back to Him.

The current moral state of mankind (look at any tv show)is enough warning for me to see we are in for a doozy soon. Korea may just be the spark.

[allmost]

You haven't read of this? The human meat hung in markets. I'll find you a link.
though a search would suffice if you were unaware.

[allmost]

Did a quick google search for north korea human meat". Mix the words up for more atrocities. Make up your own mind.

[grey_whiskers]

I wasn't doubting you.

I didn't mean to give that impression; I'm sorry.

But not as sorry as I am for the poor bastards over there.

g_w

[allmost]

I apologies for your apology. Doubt me all you want. You should. That hell hole is a regional problem created by regional players. The USA’s benevolence has not been acknowledged by most of the concerned parties, even when we held the nukes.

[screaminsunshine]

This one would last about a week. What would you do with millions of Dopey Brainwashed NK masses who think Dear Leader is God?

[PA Engineer]

This one would last about a week. What would you do with millions of Dopey Brainwashed NK masses who think Dear Leader is God?

That is the primary fear of China when they fall off of the tiger.

[screaminsunshine]

They would be wandering around like Zombies. Like the Liberals will be in January when they realize they have been rejected. I just hope the Repubs do not blow it again. The MSM will do their best to tar and feather them.