North Korea taunts the world...

[Guest Downhome]

From the Associated Press...

 

SEOUL, South Korea (March 2) - North Korea warned Sunday of ''nuclear disasters'' around the world if Washington attacks the communist state, while its civilian leaders urged greater cooperation between Pyongyang and Seoul to ease the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

 

The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper accused the Central Intelligence Agency of preparing a surprise attack on the nation's nuclear facilities that are suspected of being used to make atomic bombs.

 

''If the U.S. imperialists ignite a war on the Korean Peninsula, the war will turn into a nuclear war,'' Rodong said. ''As a consequence, the Koreans in the north and south and the people in Asia and the rest of the world will suffer horrifying nuclear disasters.''

 

The report, carried by the North's state-run KCNA news agency, claimed that Washington put its forces around the peninsula on ''semi-war footing'' and ''is pushing ahead with nuclear war preparations in full swing.''

 

Pyongyang accuses Washington of inciting the nuclear standoff as a pretext for an invasion. Washington has repeatedly said it has no plans to attack North Korea, but stresses that ''all options are on the table.''

 

In Seoul on Sunday, North Korea's religious and civic leaders took part in inter-Korean religious masses and urged greater cooperation between the two Koreas.

 

''Preventing war through national cooperation is the most urgent task of the nation,'' said Ri Mun Hwan, a senior North Korean delegate. ''If war breaks out, the South cannot be safe and the entire nation will face disaster.''

 

Another delegate, Oh Kyung Woo, said the ''United States is threatening a nuclear war, but if war breaks out both South and North will incur damages,'' according to South Korea's national Yonhap news agency.

 

''Foreign forces will never give us reunification. We must cooperate with each other,'' Oh was quoted as saying.

 

The comments were made during religious masses at a cathedral, a church, a Buddhist temple and other religious locations, which were attended by thousands of South Koreans.

 

The ceremonies were a part of an inter-Korean festival to mark the anniversary of a major independence uprising against Japanese colonial rule on March 1, 1919.

 

Pyongyang sent 105 delegates to Seoul on Saturday for the three-day festival. Both Koreas mark the uprising as a major holiday. Japan ruled the peninsula from 1910 to 1945.

 

Rodong, monitored by South Korea's national Yonhap news agency, reiterated that the North's nuclear activities were ''strictly for peaceful purposes and poses no threat to anyone.''

 

''Crushing the U.S. plot to attack North Korea is a very important issue related to peace and safety of Asia and the world, the existence and future of mankind,'' Rodong said.

 

Raising tensions last week, North Korea test-fired a missile into the sea off its east coast. Pyongyang also reactivated a 5-megawatt reactor that could produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, U.S. and South Korean officials said.

 

On Saturday, North Korea said nuclear war could break out on the peninsula at ''any moment,'' after South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun warned of a ''calamity'' unless the standoff is resolved peacefully and quickly.

 

The dispute flared in October when Washington said North Korea had admitted pursuing a nuclear program, which violated a 1994 pact.

 

Washington and its allies cut off oil shipments to the impoverished communist state. The North responded by saying it would reactivate its frozen facilities. It also expelled U.N. monitors and withdrew from the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

 

...are they bluffing or are they serious? Either way, should something not be done about threats such as this? As the days go by, I'm almost convinced that N.K. should be our current priority, rather than Iraq.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

More brinksmanship, as usual.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

But remember, it's the country that sorta kinda may possibly have something resembling a nuclear weapon that you should really stay worried about!

[cawthon777 0]

"The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper accused the Central Intelligence Agency of preparing a surprise attack on the nation's nuclear facilities that are suspected of being used to make atomic bombs."

 

Mmhmm, and we all know how reliable those communist newspapers are. It's not like they act merely as a voice box for the government.

 

North Korea is the child whose parents didn't love him so he's acting out to get attention. The entire involvement of the CIA could very well be fabricated as an excuse for North Korea to get more attention by jumping up and down.

 

And I love how America is portrayed as the one being at fault, even though it's North Korea that broke the pact.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

But remember, it's the country that sorta kinda may possibly have something resembling a nuclear weapon that you should really stay worried about!

No.

 

We shouldn't be concerned with the hopelessly poor country whoring for attention that sorta kinda may possibly use a nuclear weapon and lose everything it seeks, namely humanitarian aid.

 

The country posing a more immediate threat to the world, possessing ties to terrorism, and not hesitating to rape, torture, or murder others should warrant our current attention. Not to mention how much easier it is to take them out.

 

I hope you've been following NK's m.o. Every week-and-a-half or so, they release another doomsday threat. 1st they cover up some cameras, then they have some plutonium rods, then they have missiles that might hit CA, etc, etc.

[Guest Mad Dog]

If they really had any intention of dropping a nuke on someone I don't think they'd be announcing it to the world. Iraq is more dangerous for the sole reason that they sneak around in the shadows and they won't say what they have.

[Guest Kingpk]

North Korea pulled this same stunt a few years back under Clinton. It's merely a ploy in order to get the UN and the rest of the world to give them more aid. They are playing up the nuclear angle more since that's what everyone is worried about nowadays (terrorists with nukes).

 

Kim Jong KNOWS if he even ATTEMPTS using a nuclear weapon, Pyongyang will be inhabitable for 10,000 years afterwards.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

We shouldn't be concerned with the hopelessly poor country whoring for attention that sorta kinda may possibly use a nuclear weapon and lose everything it seeks, namely humanitarian aid.

Yeah, after all, they have nothing to lose if they did.

 

 

Just cover your ears and stay focused at the task at hand.

[Guest Kingpk]

We shouldn't be concerned with the hopelessly poor country whoring for attention that sorta kinda may possibly use a nuclear weapon and lose everything it seeks, namely humanitarian aid.

Yeah, after all, they have nothing to lose if they did.

 

What? Try all economic and humanitarian aid, pissing off a lot of countries, opening the window for a counterstrike, having their army smashed in a probable war, and perhaps a revolt of the North Koreans.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Yes, pay no attention to Kim Jong-Il, he's only a complete fucking lunatic who has no real grasp on reality. I'm sure that'll work, especially given that he's got the majority of the N.K populace brainwashed. Ah well, it'll only be them there Japs and Koreans getting hit, why bother worrying? Nope, being open about it means that they do in fact have no aggressive intentions at all. Wake up, the reason North Korea is blatant about its nuclear arms possession is because the US can't do a fucking thing about it at this point.

[cawthon777 0]

Wake up, the reason North Korea is blatant about its nuclear arms possession is because the US can't do a fucking thing about it at this point.

Of course we can. The moment they prepare to use whatever nuclear devices they have, we turn them into a 5x5 pool of oil.

 

The only reason he's pulling this power play is to get resources from the U.S. How much is he going to get if he lays Japan to waste?

[Guest Tim]

We shouldn't be concerned with the hopelessly poor country whoring for attention that sorta kinda may possibly use a nuclear weapon and lose everything it seeks, namely humanitarian aid.

 

The country posing a more immediate threat to the world, possessing ties to terrorism, and not hesitating to rape, torture, or murder others should warrant our current attention.

 

Except for the terrorism bit, and Iraq has no ties to terrorism, this could apply entirely to Iraq.

[cawthon777 0]

Except for the terrorism bit, and Iraq has no ties to terrorism, this could apply entirely to Iraq.

That's completely false. Is Saddam the best friend of bin Laden? No. Does that mean he's not a terrorist and does not support terrorism? No.

[Guest DrTom]

... and Iraq has no ties to terrorism...

Patently false.

 

Saddam Hussein gave large sums of money to Usama bin Laden on several occasions in the mid-1990s. He also joins Saudi Arabia in compensating the families of Palestinian homicide bombers, to the tune of about $25,000 US per "martyr."

[Guest Silence]

N. Korea is a menace. I hope we can avoid a war with these retarded clowns. If we cannot, I hope that this time around that we anihilate their entire military and all capabilities to arm themselves for the next 50 years.

I know that's a pipe dream, but it would be nice.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

N. Korea is a menace. I hope we can avoid a war with these retarded clowns. If we cannot, I hope that this time around that we anihilate their entire military and all capabilities to arm themselves for the next 50 years.

I know that's a pipe dream, but it would be nice.

The thing a lot of people don't realize is just how far ahead of the world we are, militarily. Just in terms of sheer technology, nobody is within 10 years of us. We have a hard time working with other nations in military activities because we are just out of their league.

 

If we went to war with N. Korea, it wouldn't last two months. The ONLY country on Earth that has a remotely outside shot of lasting 3 months with us is China, Russia, and Israel (and the first two are duly SOLELY to their military size --- God knows the Russians can't fight. In a war, NOBODY dies quite like Russians).

 

We worry for the sake of worrying in this country.

-=Mike

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

The thing a lot of people don't realize is just how far ahead of the world we are, militarily.

We LIKE to think that. For a decade now we figured we'd have fancy laser sighted bombs and nifty rifles no other country would have and that we could squash any opposing faction.

 

Then it took us MONTHS to get a bunch of guys holed up in hills in Afghanistan....

[Guest The Hamburglar]

If we went to war with N. Korea, it wouldn't last two months. The ONLY country on Earth that has a remotely outside shot of lasting 3 months with us is China, Russia, and Israel (and the first two are duly SOLELY to their military size --- God knows the Russians can't fight. In a war, NOBODY dies quite like Russians).

And two months is more than enough time for Seoul and Tokyo to have been turned into smoking ruins. Seoul can be hit with conventional artillery alone. Of course the US would easily beat North Korea, but that's not the point. North Korea will never physically threaten the US, but the threat it poses to Asian targets could wreck the world economy. Hence, there is far too great a risk factor in actually attacking North Korea.

[cawthon777 0]

We LIKE to think that. For a decade now we figured we'd have fancy laser sighted bombs and nifty rifles no other country would have and that we could squash any opposing faction.

 

Then it took us MONTHS to get a bunch of guys holed up in hills in Afghanistan....

We like to think that because it's true. How about read up on all the details that went into planning that military attack and then rephrase what you just said.

[cawthon777 0]

North Korea will never physically threaten the US, but the threat it poses to Asian targets could wreck the world economy. Hence, there is far too great a risk factor in actually attacking North Korea.

The only reason Kim Jong-il would attack South Korea or Tokyo is if he has a death wish.

[Guest Spicy McHaggis]

If we went to war with N. Korea, it wouldn't last two months. The ONLY country on Earth that has a remotely outside shot of lasting 3 months with us is China, Russia, and Israel (and the first two are duly SOLELY to their military size --- God knows the Russians can't fight. In a war, NOBODY dies quite like Russians).

And two months is more than enough time for Seoul and Tokyo to have been turned into smoking ruins. Seoul can be hit with conventional artillery alone. Of course the US would easily beat North Korea, but that's not the point. North Korea will never physically threaten the US, but the threat it poses to Asian targets could wreck the world economy. Hence, there is far too great a risk factor in actually attacking North Korea.

Interesting... my brother and I were discussing this today. Why do the Koreans insist on a capitol 50 miles from a million man army? Seoul may be tradition, but Pusan is at the end of a peninsula that NK couldn't push into during the Korean War. Why not Pusan?

[Guest phoenixrising]

If we went to war with N. Korea, it wouldn't last two months. The ONLY country on Earth that has a remotely outside shot of lasting 3 months with us is China, Russia, and Israel (and the first two are duly SOLELY to their military size --- God knows the Russians can't fight. In a war, NOBODY dies quite like Russians).

And two months is more than enough time for Seoul and Tokyo to have been turned into smoking ruins. Seoul can be hit with conventional artillery alone. Of course the US would easily beat North Korea, but that's not the point. North Korea will never physically threaten the US, but the threat it poses to Asian targets could wreck the world economy. Hence, there is far too great a risk factor in actually attacking North Korea.

Interesting... my brother and I were discussing this today. Why do the Koreans insist on a capitol 50 miles from a million man army? Seoul may be tradition, but Pusan is at the end of a peninsula that NK couldn't push into during the Korean War. Why not Pusan?

It probably is tradition more than anything else. Washington D.C. isn't too far from the coast...during the Cold War there was a scenario where a Russian ballistic missile submarine would fire a "depressed-trajectory" shot right off the coast, quickly decapitating the government if the Cold War went hot. Hell, Washington was burned during the War of 1812 and they just painted the White House white rather than move.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

The thing a lot of people don't realize is just how far ahead of the world we are, militarily.

We LIKE to think that. For a decade now we figured we'd have fancy laser sighted bombs and nifty rifles no other country would have and that we could squash any opposing faction.

 

Then it took us MONTHS to get a bunch of guys holed up in hills in Afghanistan....

World of difference in a military action (i.e. our thorough eradication of the Taliban) and a search mission --- and we could kill him in moments, but we're simply trying to minimize casualties.

 

The Taliban and Al Qaeda forces weren't even a speed bump.

-=Mike

[Guest TheMikeSC]

If we went to war with N. Korea, it wouldn't last two months. The ONLY country on Earth that has a remotely outside shot of lasting 3 months with us is China, Russia, and Israel (and the first two are duly SOLELY to their military size --- God knows the Russians can't fight. In a war, NOBODY dies quite like Russians).

And two months is more than enough time for Seoul and Tokyo to have been turned into smoking ruins. Seoul can be hit with conventional artillery alone. Of course the US would easily beat North Korea, but that's not the point. North Korea will never physically threaten the US, but the threat it poses to Asian targets could wreck the world economy. Hence, there is far too great a risk factor in actually attacking North Korea.

We have a country that cannot feed its own people.

 

It is surrounded by countries that would have few qualms annihiating it at the first sign of a threat.

 

People tend to ignore that N. Korea has MUCH more to lose in being violent than we do.

 

We'd suffer an economic blow.

 

N. Korea would cease to exist. If we didn't "get" them, China would. -=Mike

[Guest The Hamburglar]

N. Korea would cease to exist. If we didn't "get" them, China would. -=Mike

Well, that's what I've been hoping. It would be better for the US to simply leave North Korea alone and wait until China inevitably take them out, which they would, considering they certainly don't want any other nuclear powers in East Asia. However, you all seem to be overlooking one salient point - namely, Kim Jong Il is a complete madman, much more mentally unstable than Saddam and could concievably launch a strike. The point isn't whether North Korea will lose a conflict, its that no conflict can be initiated without great risk to two of the world's major economic capitals. Ergo, the North Koreans have something of a bargaining position.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

N. Korea would cease to exist. If we didn't "get" them, China would.                              -=Mike

Well, that's what I've been hoping. It would be better for the US to simply leave North Korea alone and wait until China inevitably take them out, which they would, considering they certainly don't want any other nuclear powers in East Asia. However, you all seem to be overlooking one salient point - namely, Kim Jong Il is a complete madman, much more mentally unstable than Saddam and could concievably launch a strike. The point isn't whether North Korea will lose a conflict, its that no conflict can be initiated without great risk to two of the world's major economic capitals. Ergo, the North Koreans have something of a bargaining position.

Oh, Kim Jong Il, like his father before him, is insane. Almost totally gone. I completely agree with you there.

 

HOWEVER, there is one other little thing --- N. Korea has to find a way to get a missile over here to hit us and, right now, I don't have a lot of concern that they could pull it off.

 

But, we'd rather not have China take them out as we don't fully trust China, either.

 

It's impossible to fully trust a Communist regime.

-=Mike

[Guest Midnight Express83]

One question, if N Korea is such a poor country that can't even afford the basics for human life(IE: Food, Water, Shelter). HOW THE FUCK CAN THEY BUY AND/OR BUILD AN ICBM?!?! And if such thing was built, it will blown out of the sky before it even gets far enough, too many countries with too many planes are not going to let something like that fly over their heads.

 

Secondly, N Korea would be gone before such missle will be launched. China, Soth Korea, US, Japan, Russia, ect. al. Would blow it out of the sky.

 

If N Korea is invaded, it wouldn't be like the Korean War. It will be like Germany going through Poland. Blink and you miss the goverment being smashed.

[Guest Brian]

I'm still feeling that China is running the thing behind the scenes and yanking the strings.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Ah, China aren't exactly Communist these days. As far as I can see, any of their residual shiftyness seems to fit entirely with the Chinese empire's behaviour over the last few thousand years - very introverted, enigmatic and generally concerned with their own internal affairs. The US can afford to concede influence to China in Asia. China and the US don't really have conflicting ideologies now that China are only pseudo-Commies, and geographically they're too far away from each other to be in general competition. There's room enough in the world for two superpowers, and think of the money US corporations can make if they get the chance to crack the Chinese market. And Mike, I am certain that there is no way North Korea could ever hit the US, but that's not the problem. Hitting Seoul or Tokyo would be just as damaging, economically speaking, and it appears that North Korean missiles do have the range for Japan.

[Guest Silence]

I taunt North Korea!!! You guys are chumps!!!