(Urgent) N.Korea's Bold Move To Produce (6) Nukes Highlighted Today on S. Korean TV (Link to Video)

YTN TV, Seoul, Korea (w/video link) ^ | 31 January 2003 | YTN TV, Seoul, Korea (w/video link)

[Porterville]

Bring it on psychos.

[RummyChick]

This is an "in your face" move.
No wonder our President has aged so quickly.

For those that have been around since WW II..which likely isnt very many at this point...is our situation today graver than WW II or Vietnam, or Cold War etc. It scares the hell out of me.

[XHogPilot]

I agree, China (PRC) should deal with this.
N. Korea (DPRK) is a major problem for PRC with significant numbers of individuals and families fleeing the DPRK hell-hole.
If the crap hits the fan in Korea, the impoverished slaves in DPRK will flood China. Additionally, China's exports will wither, as regional trade will evaporate, as well as trade with the US.
Intervention by PRC, against the DPRK is in China's interest. Let's hope our leadership realizes this and can force events in that direction.

[Steel Wolf]

It is an option, but it would lead to an absolute slaughter without air and naval supremacy by the PLA. Assuming that you get (I'll be very charitable here) 25% of your troops on shore for the first wave, then what? Who made it through? Who's in charge? Where is the resupply? What do we do about the Taiwanese army?

Before the fishing and commerical vessels are sunk, the LCVs and transport aircraft will have been targeted, so you'd only be looking at lightly equipped infantry on the shore, with little hope of reinforcements. Every assessment I've seen of an invasion of Taiwan shows it would have to be several times larger and more complicated than Operation Overlord, which is still the largest amphibious attack in history. Many planners doubt that we could pull it off within reasonable limits. (Unless a blockade were to go up around the island and be given enough time to choke them out.)

[dark_lord]

Yeah, but who is doing the "stopping"?

Remember, if the US is tied up in Iraq and N. Korea - it won't be us. The Taiwanese will be on their own.

[bybybill]

Somebody needs to explain why China would defend NK? What do they gain?

George, send in the Tomahawks?