North Korean Missile Test

[classicman]

U.S. Ready to Respond to N.Korea Missile
Admiral Keating Tells ABC News U.S. Prepared to Shoot Down Missile If Obama Gives OK

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Martha Raddatz, Adm. Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Commands, said that the military is prepared to shoot down any North Korean ballistic missile -- if President Obama should give the order.

"If a missile leaves the launch pad we'll be prepared to respond upon direction of the president," Keating told ABC News. "I'm not a betting man but I'd go like 60/40, 70/30 that it will, they will attempt to launch a satellite. There's equipment moving up there that would indicate the preliminary stages of preparation for a launch. So I'd say it's more than less likely."

"Should it look like it's not a satellite launch -- that it's something other than a satellite launch -- we'll be ready to respond."

Intelligence reports suggest that North Korea is preparing a long-range missile test. Earlier this week, North Korea announced its plans to send a satellite into orbit as part of its space program.

However, many in the international community assert that North Korea's satellite test is simply a means of concealing a long-range missile test -- a move that would flare existing tension in the region.

I wonder if this is the type of thing Biden was referring to during the election.

[Kaliayev]

Glad to see North Korea got someone to smuggle in a copy of Biden's speeches. Now all they have to do is dust off one of their missiles, the ones with the unique, patented, squirrel in a hamster-wheel gyroscopic guidance system, and point it at Japan for a while. Until everyone goes into hysterics, and then they'll throw their toys around the pram while shouting "but its just not fair, mom" to anyone bored enough to listen.

[TheMercenary]

I doubt Obama has the balls to order a shoot down.

[Kaliayev]

Dude, its a North Korean missile. Shooting it down would be redundant.

Anyway, so long as they keep sabre-rattling, the Japanese have a legitimate excuse to ignore and bypass Article 9 of their Constitution - a reason which the Chinese cannot openly protest without looking paranoid anyhow. And that fits in with overall US strategic plans to use the threat of Japanese attack to keep the CCP in line, should they start getting any funny ideas. And Russia gets to bluster and feel important because its part of the six nation talks.

Everyone's a winner, except China, South Korea and the starving people of North Korea.

[Yznhymr]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

I doubt Obama has the balls to order a shoot down.

Pass the keys to Michelle, she does. She's scary.

[TheMercenary]

The only cure for the NK's is a coup d’état.

[tw]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

The only cure for the NK's is a coup d’état.

Nuke 'em is always the solution advocated by every nation's extremists. Extremists make good cannon fodder but not good for nations that solve problems intelligently and without war.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by tw

Nuke 'em is always the solution advocated by every nation's extremists. Extremists make good cannon fodder but not good for nations that solve problems intelligently and without war.

There are things even worse than war, tw. Understand that, or understand nothing, ever.

And since "intelligently" isn't how the DPRK seems to solve any problem, and "without war" is also clearly not an option the DPRK picks, place the blame where it belongs: on the nondemocracy. These people aren't going to do anything but fuck it up, and get their regime extinguished -- and why not by force? Will they yield to anything else? -- in the finishing up of Communism.

[capnhowdy]

Kill 'em all. Let God sort 'em out.

The only way to stop the majority from poking you in the goddam eye.

[Kaliayev]

North Korea has always acted crazy in order to force concessions. No-one is fooled by it any more. In the 70s and early 80s, they were truly crazy. Tunnels under the demilitarized zone leading directly into Seoul (which you could march regiments down). Blowing up the entire South Korean cabinet, barring the President, in Rangoon. Infiltration missions down the coast line.

They don't do things by half measures, and if North Korea really wanted to nuke someone, a lack of a missile delivery system would not have stopped them by now. Seal up a warhead in a boat and you can float it into any harbour in the world and let it go boom. They're threatening because they want concessions. Fuel, food, maybe the a DVD of Season 6 of The Shield for Kim...hell, they may even be trying to establish a decent negotiating position for the reunification of the country. Maybe not just yet, but Kim boy won't live forever, and he has few suitable sucessors. Not to mention the country is falling apart.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Zhuge Liang

Dude, its a North Korean missile. Shooting it down would be redundant.

Touche'.

Originally Posted by Zhuge Liang

North Korea has always acted crazy in order to force concessions.

Add in the Japanese abductions. The NKs sent commando raids into Japanese coastal areas and islands and abducted scores, maybe hundreds of Japanese citizens, to take back to NK and 're-educate' (brainwash), probably with the idea of returning them as secret agents, or at least using them to train their own agents.

Can anyone say "act of war"? "Causus belli"?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Um, how come we are allowed to wing missiles over the Pacific, every now and then, but they are not?

[Kaliayev]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Add in the Japanese abductions. The NKs sent commando raids into Japanese coastal areas and islands and abducted scores, maybe hundreds of Japanese citizens, to take back to NK and 're-educate' (brainwash), probably with the idea of returning them as secret agents, or at least using them to train their own agents.

Can anyone say "act of war"? "Causus belli"?

Except Japan doesn't have an armed force who can go in and deal with such things (yet). Article Nine of their Constitution specifically forbids them, though as North Korea get more threatening, there will be more popular support for constitutional revision. Also, the (likely) incoming government has made noises to the effect that they do not want to be reliant entirely on American military power, which is usually the stealth argument for remilitarization.

Besides, its a little late to go to war now, since they have been returned.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Zhuge Liang

Except Japan doesn't have an armed force who can go in and deal with such things (yet). Article Nine of their Constitution specifically forbids them, though as North Korea get more threatening, there will be more popular support for constitutional revision. Also, the (likely) incoming government has made noises to the effect that they do not want to be reliant entirely on American military power, which is usually the stealth argument for remilitarization.

Besides, its a little late to go to war now, since they have been returned.

You underestimate Japan's "Self Defence Force".
True, a section in the constitution forbids them sending troops overseas. But they have a large and well equipped military oops I mean Self Defence Force. Almost 250,000 troops, and, as examples, more than 800 tanks, 100 F4 Phantom fighter jets, 200 F15 Eagle fighter jets, dozens of destroyers, 18 submarines.

However, you might point out that they lack capacity to deploy force overseas in large amounts. That, and public opinion and the constitution, are the only things holding them back.

According to many Japanese, many abductees have not been returned. I don't know the facts on this.

[ZenGum]

Good point. Probably the same reason you're allowed to have nuclear weapons, and they're not.

Although, in the past their short range tests have gone directly towards Japan, and their long range tests directly over it. The Japanese get a little twitchy about that shit. Imagine Cuba testing missiles over Florida. A post-nuclear Florida.