The news is consumed with President Obama’s dim witted remark about Attorney General Harris’s looks. Who really cares? He is male. He thought he was being cute and funny. I repeat. He is male.
Meanwhile, North Korea, a country being run by a spoiled rotten ex-child, continues to threaten our country and its neighbors with nuclear weapons. Surely that threat is more news-worthy that a president being a bumble-tongue.
Heretofore, I have always dismissed North Korea’s threats. Now I am sitting here thinking is it even possible? No one is saying it isn’t. Living 25 miles from D.C. should always have us with perked ears. The question remains, are we in danger or is it all saber-rattling.
Unless North Korea puts a nuke into a container ship, DC is safe from them.
However, the danger is being taken seriously enough to put anti-missile forces off the their coasts. And to remind the boy emperor that we have these things called stealth bombers that are based outside of his longest range weapons.
I was wondering if it might be worthwhile to preempt him. HE stated that we were “at war” again and the cease fire was over. Should we take him at his word and hit him? What are HIS anti-missile capabilities? Even conventional weapon Tomahawks should be able to evade his sensors.
As for the press,
What else is new?
The problem with a pre-emptive attack in this context, CS, is that Kim has a gun at the head of Seoul. It probably would take about 30 minutes for his artillery to level the place, and kill a significant number of the millions who live there. We know for a near fact that the Chinese would not let us or the South Koreans just overrun the North. So the options aren’t yummy. If a nuclear-armed missile were on the pad in North Korea, particularly one with the range to reach the US, pre-emption would be a necessity. From what we know now, that capability isn’t there. In the meantime, the rhetoric from the North increases the risk that a relatively contained military demonstration from their side would have to be met with a stronger response, etc. etc.
There seemed to be some indication the last few days that the Chinese are getting Kim to cool his jets. The most likely explanation for this is that it is an extreme form of the annual bluster that North Korea engages in at the time of the South Korean/US military exercises. The Kims rattle around for internal consumption so that when the exercises terminate on schedule, they take credit internally for having backed us down from our invasion plans and thereby increase their internal standing in that unhappy, feudal, half-starved country-prison.
I spent a year in Korea in my Army days, and on the DMZ we figured we had maybe a day. Seoul is about 30 seconds flight time from the North for a missle. The big issue for the North is how to get across the DMZ since except for a couple of bridges (set to be blown on the Southside), that strip is so heavily mined still from the 50s it is impossible to just walk across. Big issue for the South is if the dam up by the Chosin Reservoir is blown, it will flood a good protion of the northeast portion of South Korea.
Missle strike to DC has shifted to hitting Hawaii in some of the rants which is really a “long shot” for them given their inventory is mainly rockets which can reach about 2500 to 3000 miles. The one they talk about being able to reach the US (mainly the west coast) is still in development as in more talk than actual live fires.
Having listened to this kid, and been there when his dad did rants, I join Scout in his assessment about taking credit in the propoganda wars internal to the North. Although this kid might do something just to prove a point. I had hoped with a “western” educated young leader, just maybe progress could have been made in terms of not the old ranting method. Alas, he is just staying in the mold of the family business I guess.
@Scout
I feel better now. That makes sense.
The other problem for the South….WHAT IF THEY WIN?
Then they have to deal with the problems endemic to the North. MILLIONS of starving, paranoid, people that have had no real contact with the outside world for decades.
I feel for Seoul. What’s worse? Preempting someone that has declared war and reducing possible damage but therefor ensuring that combat begins….or waiting to see if he’s actually serious and taking the full brunt of a first strike.
Does anyone think that South Korea might have something to say about this whole thing? The conversation so far has ignored them. Perhaps someone in Washington should ask them what they want to do. Just thinking…
Our blog is too mature to be discussing anything but Korea. I am proud of us!!!
@George S. Harris
I think that Korea is being consulted. We just haven’t seen what THEIR press is reporting.
@George S. Harris
I would imagine that any consultations and talks going on with South Korea would be off the record, as it should.
Saw Gov. Richardson on one of the talk shows this AM; he has been to N. Korea several times in the last few years. Seemed to think that the young guy would appreciate Washington’s outreach, as proof that he actually counts. Thinks that he’s flexing his muscle as a show to his fellow N. Koreans.
What do “I” know?
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What do I know?
@punchak
Interesting but S. Korea has publicly said no talks until N. Korea stops its nuclear program. While Governor Richardson has been an excellent spokesman, I do not know if he has any sort of “portfolio” status. Perhaps. As I noted on another blog, l wonder if he is going to pull a “Duchy of Fenwick” show, then surrender and get “post war relief” relief ala The Marshall Plan. I know it sounds nuts but…