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Nuclear War At Any Moment - N. Korea
Gloucestershire ^

Posted on 02/20/2003 6:39:00 AM PST by RCW2001

14:00 - 20 February 2003

Relations between North and South Korea are now so grave that military commanders have warned a nuclear war could break out at any moment.

This follows an incident in which a North Korean fighter jet briefly crossed into South Korea but retreated after being confronted by two southern jets.

Anti-aircraft missile units have been put into battle position in the South Korean capital of Seoul

Only a few days ago the North threatened to abandon the armistice keeping peace along the countries' tense border.

The incursion, the first by a North Korean military jet since 1983, increased jitters on the peninsula, where the North is locked in a dispute over nuclear weapons development.

KCNA, the North's state news agency and a mouthpiece of the regime, said the situation on the peninsula was now "so alarming that a nuclear war may break out at any moment."

Tension has crept up since October, when US officials said North Korea had admitted having a covert nuclear weapons programme.

Washington and its allies suspended fuel shipments, and the North retaliated by expelling UN monitors, taking steps to restart frozen nuclear facilities and withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News
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To: RCW2001
As the Thing used to say : It's clobbering time.
61 posted on 02/20/2003 8:39:37 AM PST by Centurion2000 (Take charge of your destiny, or someone else will)
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To: TLBSHOW

Quick send in the UN.

62 posted on 02/20/2003 8:41:15 AM PST by bmwcyle (Semper Gumby - Always Flexable)
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To: PsyOp
I also think that Bush is playing this right--studiously ignoring North Korea and allowing them to flail about provocatively till they make the case for their own removal from the civilized world. The more we ignore him, the more Kim Jong Il will try to get noticed in the only way he knows how--threats.

This is exactly right. North Korea has nothing we need. Rather then play their game, Bush is making them play his. If we ignore North Korea, and go out of our way to not provoke them, they will fall. They may try and blame, threaten, cajole, and intimidate us and the locals, but if we don't take their bait, so much the better.

We do not want to get drawn into their game. They will accuse us of anything to attempt to scare us into thinking they are legitimately aggrieved. They may say or do anything, including faking an attack on themselves, to make us look like the bad guy, and cause the appeasenik crowd to blame us.

Leaving them alone, to collapse under the weight of their own ineptitude, is probably the best plan. There is nothing to be gained by talking to them. Their word is worth less than the paper it is printed on, they will break any treaty or pledge the moment it suits them, and blame us.

63 posted on 02/20/2003 8:41:24 AM PST by Steel Wolf
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To: geedee
But if I were GW I'd have my finger on the trigger to annihilate the North Korean bastard as soon as I even got a whif of missile fuel.

I think I read where Japan said that would be reason for a preemptive strike against NK. They would be doing the striking, we would just need to ensure China stayed out of it.
64 posted on 02/20/2003 8:46:02 AM PST by BabsC
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To: mhking
I wonder how far they'll go?

I think WE could fight 30-40 wars simultaneously if the world wants to bring it. Course they might not like the rules of engagement much.
65 posted on 02/20/2003 8:46:05 AM PST by johnb838 (For socialism to triumph they must make us feel guilty. Don't give in to them.)
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To: Steel Wolf
Kim Jong Il is like the playground wannabe bully who tries intimidation to get attention. When, around sunset, he finally realizes he's on the playground alone, he begins to cry, "Please come back and play with me!!!"
66 posted on 02/20/2003 8:48:40 AM PST by azhenfud
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: mhking; hchutch
Is NK feeeling lucky with 2 small A-bombs?

"I know what you're asking: did he fire six shots, or only five...Well in all the excitement, I kind of lost track myself..."

"I know what you're thinking. Did the skipper of the Nebraska fire 24 missiles or only 23? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, he kinda lost track himself. But being that this is a Trident submarine, the most powerful SSBN in the world, and one shot would blow Pyongang and its suburbs clean off the map, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"

68 posted on 02/20/2003 8:49:30 AM PST by Poohbah (Beware the fury of a patient man -- John Dryden)
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To: Poohbah
"...one shot would blow Pyongang and its suburbs clean off the map..."

And Kim thinks his hair is a tangled mess now....

69 posted on 02/20/2003 8:52:17 AM PST by azhenfud
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To: Wonder Warthog
I think we pulled the nukes about 15 years ago as a result of one of SK's demands. We also did the same thing with Japan but the fact that they're quickly available from subs and carriers results in this being just so much window dressing.
70 posted on 02/20/2003 8:52:45 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: mhking
It's like watching an idiot play chicken....

With a train.

71 posted on 02/20/2003 8:52:46 AM PST by gridlock (AKA Republican Landslide)
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To: Polybius
Rabbi Goldberg! Uh...I mean, The Wind.
72 posted on 02/20/2003 8:53:02 AM PST by onedoug
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To: katana
Along with a fairly large number of dependents (read: American women and children).

I could be wrong, but I believe Korea is considered a hardship post, which means no dependents are allowed to reside there with the military personnel. Maybe someone who has been posted there can verfiy this, or correct me if I'm wrong.

73 posted on 02/20/2003 8:54:09 AM PST by CA Conservative
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To: RCW2001
I wonder if the South Koreans still feel anti-American?
74 posted on 02/20/2003 8:55:27 AM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (Get High on Life, Not Drugs)
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To: CA Conservative
It is a hardship tour for the vast majority of troops rotating through. There are some billets that authorize dependents, for those stationed in the major cities, but nowhere near as many as you'd find in Germany or other major OCONUS locations.
75 posted on 02/20/2003 8:57:34 AM PST by Steel Wolf
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To: Mamzelle
"The behaviour of the South"

At first -- back last spring I thought that was on account of fear -- SK having become in the past fifty years very concentrated in few cities, and thus very vulnerable to nuke attack. That's a bit of it -- it raises the anxiety.

But know I've come to think that the Koreans are confident in themselves and they see the North's time on the clock is essentially up, they are anxious to be fully self-reliant, and these dissings are like that of an older teenager just about ready to leave the house and go on his own -- wing flexing. South Korea is ready to fly on its own. More power to them! Hooray for them!

76 posted on 02/20/2003 8:59:49 AM PST by bvw
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To: RCW2001
What the hell are "Talking Horses"???

They're either "talking points" or "stalking horses." Dunno which. Unless, of course, Mr. Ed has come back to us...

This is so silly it's getting hard to take. The North need not threaten nuclear anything - any time they want to attack the South, Seoul is within artillery range from their side of the DMZ, and unlike the ostensible nukes they may or may not have, we know they do have artillery and they can use it.

I think they expect us, or more likely the South Koreans, to faint at the very sound "nuclear." It's going to take a little more than that.

77 posted on 02/20/2003 9:02:11 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Mamzelle
Nevertheless,

when a mouse roars with bubonic plague or nukes or some such . . .

it is wise to be prepared and decisive.

Arrogance is hazardous to any people. The universal law is that arrogance sets one up for a serious fall.

God is very underwhelmed & unamused by arrogance on the part of mere humans. . . even though they have been created in His image.

78 posted on 02/20/2003 9:02:24 AM PST by Quix (LONG RICK JOYNER ARTICLE ON PROS CONS N DIFF PROPH VOICES RE IRAQ WAR)
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To: Poohbah
"[Bleep] it Lieutenant, how many times do I have to tell you? DO NOT LEAVE YOUR [bleep]ing COFFEE CUP NEXT TO THE [bleep]ing LAUNCH CONTROLS FOR THE TLAMS?"
79 posted on 02/20/2003 9:04:05 AM PST by hchutch ("Last suckers crossed, Syndicate shot'em up" - Ice-T, "I'm Your Pusher")
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To: Phredd23
Keep an eye on the puppetmaster

Indeed. How does China benefit from North Korea's bluster?

ANSWER that question, and you have solved the puzzle.

80 posted on 02/20/2003 9:04:06 AM PST by gridlock (AKA Republican Landslide)
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