What great "friends" you have in the South?
A case of OneUpmanship?
or just?
Maybe a case of helping because they care? A chance to heal old wounds? Make ammends? Feed family? Make friends?
Echoing the sentiments in the excerpts of the article posted by Abdali - most direct sentence, IMHO, was regarding Kim Jong II being “handled gently not in spite of his transgressions, but because of them”:
~ ~
To the question of why North Korea is currently the “lesser evil” on Bush’s axis, American officials also point out that Saddam Hussein has, unlike Kim Jong II, already used weapons of mass destruction. That is true, but it is a statement about the past. Currently Saddam is in better international standing than his North Korean counterpart, having opened his doors to UN weapons inspectors.
The “Dear Leader” has not only ripped up international controls on his nuclear activities, he has a track record of supporting terrorism (the central yet unproven charge against Saddam). He also makes most of the currency he seeks for buying Mercedes and Hennessy brandy (he is apparently the company’s biggest single customer) from selling weapons systems abroad. The real reason containment remains the US policy of choice in North Korea, but a dirty word when it comes to Iraq, has nothing to do with international law and a lot to do with crude military reality. Kim is being handled gently not in spite of his transgressions, but because of them. He already has the bomb and could conceivably destroy South Korea and large parts of Japan if attacked.
Meanwhile, because Saddam’s weapons programmes have proceeded more slowly under more intense international scrutiny, he is more vulnerable. (Source: North Korea adds fuel to nuclear crisis)
On the surface, US officials insist that they are still seeking and expecting a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, but Mr Rumsfeld has reportedly asked his military advisers to draw up options for a pre-emptive use of force against North Korea and to ensure that the US is capable of waging two wars at the same time in case hostilities break out in north-east Asia and the Gulf.
This is an excert from a long piece on the latest sattelite intelligence from N.K but i thought the above might prove helpful in answering the fear question.
I don't think the USA is fearful of a war with N.Korea, the issue is just more complicated than the Iraq issue.
- The USA would not like to fight multiple fronts
- N.Korea is much further with their nuclear program
- Iraq has no ally (not even Muslim countries) while N.Korea might have the sympathies of China
- The USA did get their butts kicked previously in Eastern Asia
- N.Korea is much closer to the USA and have the means to hit the USA with their missiles
- There is no big USA interests involved in N.Korean sphere e.g. oil
- There is no political pressure involved such as Jewish interests in Israel
- S.Korea has a moral power over the USA to not let situation again deteriorate into a war
- Iraq and (unfortunately) the Muslim community is much closer to OBL and his cronies that did the Twin Towers
- The USA already has attacked Iraq and kept a presence there while they will have to establish a base from which to attack N.Korea
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Nadia_H
The real reason containment remains the US policy of choice in North Korea, but a dirty word when it comes to Iraq, has nothing to do with international law and a lot to do with crude military reality. Kim is being handled gently not in spite of his transgressions, but because of them. He already has the bomb and could conceivably destroy South Korea and large parts of Japan if attacked
[/QUOTE]
Exactly. Its good to see more and more of the mainstream western media picking up on these points, and exposing American hypocrisy, fear and double standards.
Braveheart:
The US prepares contingency plans for Major theatre wars almost constantly, as does every military in the world. Everybody has a plan.
Want to see it?
OPLAN 5027 Major Theater War - West
Phases of War
Phase 1 - DPRK Attack
Phase 2 - ROK Defense
Phase 3 - US Counter-Attack
OPLAN 5027 is the US-ROK Combined Forces Command basic warplan. Under Operations Plan 5027 (CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027), the United States plans to provide units to reinforce the Republic of Korea in the event of external armed attack. These units and their estimated arrival dates are listed in the Time Phased Force Deployment List (TPFDL), Appendix 6, to Annex A to CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027. The TPFDL is updated biennially through U.S./ROK agreements. CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027 is distributed with a SECRET-U.S./ROK classification.
Pyongyang can credibly threaten the prompt destruction of Seoul with conventional arms alone. The North Korean military could also establish a shallow foothold across the DMZ. However, the DPRK’s ability to sustain these offensive operations, or advance its forces further to the south, is questionable. South Korean and American air forces could quickly establish air supremacy and destroy North Korean ground forces. The ensuing buildup of US forces in Korea could reverse any remaining North Korean advances into the South, and unlease offensive operations into the North. North Korea does not require long-range missiles with nuclear, chemical, or biological warheads to devastate Seoul or to make a land grab across the DMZ. Such weapons are needed to deter or defeat an American counteroffensive into North Korea.
North Korea has about 500 long-range artillery tubes within range of Seoul, double the levels of a the mid-1990s. Seoul is within range of the 170mm Koksan gun and two hundred 240mm multiple-rocket launchers. The proximity of these long-range systems to the Demilitarized Zone threatens all of Seoul with devastating attacks. Most of the rest of North Korea’s artillery pieces are old and have limited range. North Korea fields an artillery force of over 12,000 self-propelled and towed weapon systems. Without moving any artillery pieces, the North could sustain up to 500,000 rounds an hour against Combined Forces Command defenses for several hours.
So, the question is, what should the US do knowing that there are only two ways to fight North Korea without horrific casualties to the South Korean population. first is a preemptive nuclear strike on the North. The second is the complete evacuation of Seoul.
So you geniuses, what should the US do?
Given the above choices, negociations, and waiting for the implosion of a starving, backward totalitarian regime seems reasonable. All of this moronic questioning of American bravery is infantile in light of the different circumstances on the penninsula.
OG, hasnt the US commander in the pacific made a request for an increase in deployment of forces on the Korean peninsula, but this has not been approved by the Bush Administration as they prefer the status quo, despite evidence which points to a revived WMD program in the North. It seems they are NOT worried about the dangers posed by North Koreas nuclear weapons program. Instead the Bush Adminstration is more interested in trying to propogate unsubstantiated information accusing Iraq of being a threat to the world even though it has NO nuclear program and so far no WMD has been found. Political Analysts are stating that its always been about regional domination in the Middle East so as to take over the major OIL supplies.
Dil,
Reports are that there may be some increase in strategic aircraft to be deployed to Diego Garcia. Normally there is no public discussion of changes in stategic resources so I would suspect that this has been leaked to reassure the North Koreans that we have them firmly in mind eventhough we are preoccupied in Iraq.
Frankly we have been dealing with the North Koreans for 50 years. Just because the little varmit is jumping up and down in his cage does not mean he gets to sing the tune. His country is desperately in need of food and fuel due to his mismanagement of the economy. There is remarkable diplomatic unanimity in the response to his antics.
As far as the OIL factor, please see the thread I started regarding the tunnel-visioned, one issued, "hyperactive oil brats".
If the shoe fits! ;)
Hats off to little Kim not only he openly pulled out of NPT, fingered monkey in broad day light and went as far as “sanctions” means war. To add insult to injury he called the monkey a coward.. LOL…
With 600 missiles pointed at SK and another 300 at Japan with nukes in his pocket!!! naaaa you be very civilized when you deal with him coz little Kim is a bad boy a lot more bad then he was in 50s. 
I’d say the monkey is using the right approach and the only approach at his disposal. 
And yet more to fear…
…if the North Koreans reprocess the spent fuel rods, they could obtain enough weapons-grade plutonium to make several nuclear bombs within months, officials said. North Korea is suspected of already having one or two atomic bombs.](North Korea on 'verge of making warheads')
The Chinese and USSR/Russkies were helping little Kim with his nuke toys. According to Chinese and Russkie experts little Kim has 10+ nukes of 50KT yield with the capacity to build quite a few more in a very short time… I think little Kim has used the right approach to deter terrorist.
Yes, and look at North Korea’s timing…
N. Korea Reactivates Nuclear Facilities](Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More)
Does anybody need any evidence about what North Korea is doing?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Malik73: *
Does anybody need any evidence about what North Korea is doing?
[/QUOTE]
No, it is quite obvious that America is scared and has been cowed into inaction by North Korea's threats which expose American hypocrisy and double standards.
I agree that 6 pages of exposing American fear is much more important than condemning a dictarorial state that is spreading nukes.
And it makes us feel better when we belittle the United States for not going to war against North Korea instead of criticizing nuke powers Russia/China for supporting the proliferation of nukes to NK types. We're not threatened by the Russians or Chinese. They aren't the top dogs, no need to shoot them down.
NK deserves the bomb. So does Libya and Sudan and everyone else. As long as it flings mud in US' eye. God Bless the Proliferation of WMD!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Seminole: *
No, it is quite obvious that America is scared and has been cowed into inaction by North Korea's threats which expose American hypocrisy and double standards.
I agree that 6 pages of exposing American fear is much more important than condemning a dictarorial state that is spreading nukes.
And it makes us feel better when we belittle the United States for not going to war against North Korea instead of criticizing nuke powers Russia/China for supporting the proliferation of nukes to NK types. We're not threatened by the Russians or Chinese. They aren't the top dogs, no need to shoot them down.
NK deserves the bomb. So does Libya and Sudan and everyone else. As long as it flings mud in US' eye. God Bless the Proliferation of WMD!
[/QUOTE]
My my junior a little tetchy today. :)
Now tell me does anyone have to present any evidence before the UN to show that they have WMD? Thank you kindly.
I agree with you, didn’t you read my post? After reading this thought-provoking thread it made me realize that the most important factor in the profileration of WMD to NK type states is the fact that it makes the US look like a pathetic wussy! LOL they are scared big time! The world is a much better place with NK possessing nukes.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Seminole: *
I agree with you, didn't you read my post?.
[/QUOTE]
Keep on doing that, but sarcasm cannot escape from the total disarray of opinion from Americans about this issue, and it has educated many on the real issues at stake in relation to Iraq in comparison to Iraq.
U.S. attack would trigger ‘total war’: North Korea
U.S. attack would trigger ‘total war’: North Korea
Nuclear facilities put on ‘normal footing’
Link:
SEOUL (AP) — Pre-emptive attacks on North Korea’s nuclear facilities would trigger a “total war,” the communist state warned today after U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld labelled the North’s government a “terrorist regime.”
The harsh rhetoric came a day after North Korea said it was putting the operation of its nuclear facilities on a “normal footing,” triggering fears it was about to produce weapons materials.
“When the U.S. makes a surprise attack on our peaceful facilities, it will spark off a total war,” the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary carried by North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA.
Ri Pyong Gap, a spokesman and deputy director at the North’s Foreign Ministry, told The London-based Guardian newspaper that the impoverished country was entitled to launch a pre-emptive strike against the United States.
“The United States says that after Iraq, we are next,” the paper quoted Ri as saying, “but we have our own countermeasures. Pre-emptive attacks are not the exclusive right of the U.S.”
It’s customary of the North to launch saber-rattling invectives against Washington when it has a dispute to settle.
Although Washington has repeatedly denied it plans to invade North Korea, Rumsfeld said restarting the nuclear program would give the North a troubling option, making nuclear weapons for itself or selling them to any other country.
“That is something the world has to take very seriously,” he said late Wednesday. “It’s a regime that is a terrorist regime. It’s a regime that has been involved in things that are harmful to other countries.”
A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said late Wednesday that his government “is now putting the operation of its nuclear facilities for the production of electricity on a normal footing after their restart.”
The statement left it unclear how far North Korea has proceeded in reactivating its nuclear facilities, which include a 5-megawatt nuclear reactor, a storage building for 8,000 spent fuel rods and a plant where those rods could be reprocessed to yield enough plutonium for four or five bombs in a matter of months.
Last week, U.S. officials said spy satellites detected covered trucks apparently taking on cargo near the storage building. Experts were divided over whether North Korea was removing the rods for reprocessing or just pretending to do so in a bluff to escalate tensions.
The latest North Korean statement left officials wondering whether North Korea was trying to take advantage of Washington’s preoccupation with Iraq to ratchet up pressure in its own standoff with the United States.
North Korea said in December that it was reactivating its facilities to generate badly needed electricity. But U.S. officials say the amount of electricity that can be produced in the Yongbyon facilities is negligible.
The most immediate step the North could take is likely to be restarting the 5-megawatt reactor, which can produce more spent fuel rods, South Korean officials said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based UN nuclear monitoring agency, said it couldn’t confirm any new nuclear activities because its inspectors were sent out of the country in December.
“We are trying various channels to confirm what it means,” said an official at the South Korean Foreign Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “At this moment, we have no information to confirm that North Korea has reactivated its nuclear facilities, that is the reactor and other key facilities.”
Even as it presses toward war with Iraq, the United States has insisted it wants a peaceful solution in the standoff with North Korea.
U.S. President George W. Bush “keeps all of his options open,” National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said in a television interview. “But he happens to believe that this is a situation with North Korea that can be resolved diplomatically.”
Analysts say North Korea, which often accuses the United States of plotting to invade it, is fearful that Washington would turn up pressure on the isolated communist country if the U.S. military wins a war with Iraq.
The North froze its nuclear facilities in a 1994 energy deal with the United States, but the deal unravelled after U.S. officials said in October that North Korea had admitted embarking on a second, clandestine nuclear program.
Washington and its allies suspended oil shipments as punishment. The North then took steps to restart the nuclear facilities, expelled UN monitors and withdrew from a global nuclear arms control treaty.
U.S. officials say they suspect the nuclear facilities were used to extract enough weapons-grade plutonium for one or two weapons before they were frozen.
The UN nuclear agency’s 35-country board of governors will meet next Wednesday to discuss the standoff and is almost certain to send the dispute to the UN Security Council, a move that could lead to economic sanctions against Pyongyang.
N. Korea has warned of the possibility of a preemptive strike against the U.S. China can't like what NK is spewing.
Or may be its China telling the US (indirectly) to be careful.
MiniMe, China does not want the U.S. on their doorstep.