Should We Be Scared Of North Korea?

[AB Editor]

 

This poll is closed.

Should We Be Scared Of North Korea?

• No - 135 votes
• 50%
• Yes - 133 votes
• 50%

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Stats until: 13:24 Mon 29th Apr 2024 (Refreshed every 5 minutes)

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[modeller]

dangerUXD // Unarmed deployment tests & underground warhead tests Danger. // // No I'm thinking of the hundreds done above ground in new mexico, the pacific etc by US/France/Britain etc. //

So that makes it OK for N K to carry out tests now and possibly start a new round of testing and threaten to use them does it ?

All those tests stopped years back and it is only now that the radiation levels are dropping. They were stopped as a part of the nuclear disarmanent treaty primarily between the USA and the USSR. but signed up for by the majority of the UN members.

[anotheoldgit]

Much has been said about the fear of the launching of missiles with nuclear heads, but if North Korea does decide to attack the South, and taking into consideration the huge numbers of 'boots on the ground' that South Korea has, don't you think it is more probable that the North would cross the border and into the South with ground troops?

If this were to happen what action do you think South Korea and the US would take to oppose this, and have they the capability?

[DangerUXD]

No modeller, just pointing out that the horse has bolted....

[pdq1]

With such a fanatic country and its occupants willing to worship whoever who's in power a war with North Korea would be unthinkable. Not from nuclear weapons either.

[Jubz]

Not scared exactly but I think we should be wary of him. I do think a lot of it is posturing. But I don't think we can ignore his threats completely as he appears to be unpredictable and unhinged and who knows what someone like that may decide to do.

[237SJ]

Words from the US Congress member who was being interviewed on TV in the States the other day (after just coming back from the region) "There are 28,500 US troops in the area and if for example North Korea fires a missile at Seoul, we will have no choice but to protect our ally and North Korea will be history". I don`t think North Korea will risk it as I expect they know they will be history too.

[jim360]

I think we should be wary rather than scared. Difficult to understand quite what these people are thinking. Certainly if they start anything violent then the country is bound to be destroyed from all sides - Russia, China and the US would very quickly gang up if there were ever a nuclear strike. So there's nothing to be "scared" of - you'd have thought. But maybe the generals and young Kim Jong-Un haven't quite woken up to the fact that they are going to lose any war they start. In which case we need to be wary. Perhaps it's all just an attempt to cement the position of the new leader. "I'm tough, I'll stand up to the world, don't worry about me being weak." That sort of thing.

[birdie1971]

↑

I think that's largely what this is – posturing to his people and his generals to 'prove' that he a world leader to be reckoned with. From what I have read about despotic dictators, when they feel under threat internally (from the general public and from those within their own government who may be looking to seize power) this display of ludicrous bombastic rhetoric is actually quite 'normal' behaviour. I think we may be looking at the final throws of another communist regime.

The trouble is, if Kim does get an itchy trigger finger, the ramifications could prove to be very unpleasant for those living in that region. Luckily, (for the rest of the world) China doesn't seem too keen to support him so an international escalation of any conflict should be limited.

It's just a really sad and pathetic situation. Many North Koreans are starving and dropping dead while their leaders live in luxury and play war games for real. It's obscene.

I saw some footage the other day of an emaciated NK girl eating grass because there was nothing else to eat. Grass!?! :-(

[Booldawg]

relax - Dennis Rodman has this covered....

[boxtops]

That picture of all his fighting hovercraft coming up the beach has been proved to be cut and paste, with just few original craft.

[modeller]

However the two rockets fired over Japan a month ago were real enough
and it only requires one to land on SK or Japan to trigger retaliation.

[keyplus90]

Now more Americans would start prepping. Makes me laugh when I watch these programmes that how scared they are.

To your original question, If a war starts then I am sure the starter would not be North Korea but we may never know the truth.

[mrsmaveric]

im sure the usa will not leave itself open to attack again,the nort koreans are stating that they have ''alternative nuclear methods'' to launch a ''devestating attack'' on the usa the chinese are massing troops and equipment on the korean borders,this could get nasty i fear...

[DTCwordfan]

When push comes to shove, China will go in and sort them out.

China is not going to allow such a maverick on its doorstep. Neither are the Japs and the USA and Russia will accept.However in looking at regional hegemony, Taiwan may be interesting.

Looking back, Thatch made a hell of a mistake in yielding Hong Kong. The model that Monaco enjoys with France could have been employed in HK and served as a future acceptable balance for both Taiwan and the Mainland.......The Koreas are culturally different but I am betting some medium term mechanism will be used to transit North into South as China has never really had ownership of the peninsula (though, at one time, they would have loved to - with the late forgotten? 1950's war).

[jim360]

Latest from BBC, waiting for full link to come up, but on there ticker it has "North Korea ... has ratified a possible nuclear strike on the US".

I really do hope I am right that this is just words.

[DTCwordfan]

splutter; it will end up somewhere in Siberia......

[ChillDoubt]

When there's a mad hound on the loose, you put it down.

His threats now justify a pre-emptive strike, especially as the Chinese appear unable or unwilling to put a leash on Asia's attack dog.

[chaptazbru]

Another madman on the rampage. They crop up every now and again, don't they .....

[jim360]

Problem with a pre-emptive strike, Chill, is that you're talking about taking on an army that, even if it does have outdated equipment, is still over a million strong. That's not going to go down easy - lots of lives lost. And if we bomb the place? Unless it is swift and decisive you risk a nuclear missile or two being launched after all, again with potentially heavy loss of life - or perhaps we bomb the civilian centres. Not really sure all the North Korean people fully appreciate what is going on - brainwashed, misled, victims of propaganda, whatever it is - and do they all deserve to pay with their lives?

I think for now the best thing to do is wait. This may yet be bluster. We can only hope that the North Korean leaders do not have a death wish. But if they do, then a lot of people will go with them. Better I think to allow them to make that choice.