North Korea has launched

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
No, there really aren't a lot of countries with that capability.. and most of those who do have it are our friends.. or at least not threatening to wipe us off the face of the earth.

:laugh:

Besides that it was a failure, they don't have stockpiles of these missiles ready to go. They tested an experimental rocket, which at BEST it would take another 1-2 years before they had enough of them to do anything meaningful (from quantity wise).

That's of course assuming they are able to target something accurately, produce enough warheads, and have enough resources, etc to launch them. Could NK hit Alaska, Washington state, Oregon, or California? Maybe, but they could only get 1-2 missiles to launch anytime in the near future. Japan, China, Russia, and India are all the ones who should be worried.

And still, until they are able to launch these from underground, which apparently they aren't yet, all of their rockets are sitting targets during setup phase.

 

[nageov3t]

pretty much the best analysis on the issue that I've read:

Kim's Targets

Sunday's North Korean missile was aimed at the Obama Administration, Middle Eastern missile buyers and impoverished North Koreans.

North Korea's Kim Jong Il and his henchmen are often described as "irrational" or "mad." This description does them a great disservice, for they have stayed in power for decades by manipulating great powers. Sunday's missile launch is just another step in a complicated political game whose aim has not changed since the 1960s: to ensure a steady influx of foreign aid without making any concessions which might put regime at risk.

For decades, North Korea's inefficient economy has been kept afloat by international aid. At the beginning, this aid -- mainly food and energy -- flowed from the Soviet Union and China. Since the mid-1990s, South Korea, China and, surprisingly, the United States provided it. (Throughout the last decade there were years when the U.S. was the major provider of food aid to the North.) Pyongyang ensured this flow continued by creating international crises and then demanding payment for solving them.

This approach works very well, mainly because Mr. Kim and his lackeys do not care about obedience to the international law, nor about the survival of their country's own population. Sunday's missile launch is simply the reapplication of this old tactic.

The first target of the North Korean missile is, of course, the White House -- not literally, but figuratively. Pyongyang's leaders know that under Barack Obama's administration, North Korea will drift downward in Washington's foreign policy agenda -- in favor of hotter spots like Afghanistan -- and they do not like it. To survive, North Korea has to appear a serious threat. Therefore their message to Washington runs something like this: "Mr. Obama, do not forget: We're here, we're dangerous, and we're defiant -- so you had better deal with us and give us some aid and diplomatic concessions."

Skeptics will argue such blackmail will not work. History does not support this position. In October 2006, North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon. For a while, Washington and other capitals talked about repercussions and "international solidarity." But few months later, in February 2007, the U.S. dramatically changed its approach -- and after years of saber-rattling, chose to resume negotiations with Pyongyang. North Korean leaders believe this change in the U.S. attitude was related to the nuclear test. Therefore, they expect that this time, nothing will come out of the rising wave of diplomatic condemnation. They are probably right.

The second target of Sunday's launch is more commercial then diplomatic. North Korea is a desperately poor country with a broken command-and-control economy. The sale of short- and medium-range missiles are an important currency earner for the regime, with buyers largely from countries of the Middle East. During the 2006 missile launch and nuclear test, Iranian scientists were present -- as they were Sunday. A successful satellite launch will serve as a sales pitch for all North Korean missiles, thus increasing the regime's revenue.

The third target of Sunday's launch is aimed squarely at the North Korean audience. The rocket was launched days before the country's major national holiday: the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the North Korean state, and also father of the current dictator Kim Jong Il. The launch will help regime to boost its own credibility and support inside the country. The masses will be told that brilliant guidance of Mr. Kim and his government made possible modern technology that few countries would even dream of.

Pyongyang has used these tactics before; the famine of the late 1990s, for instance, was explained by official propaganda as the price Koreans had to pay for developing modern powerful weapons. The government argues these weapons alone can ensure the survival of the Korean nation against genocidal Americans and bloodthirsty Japanese. Until recently, North Korean propaganda has been able to point only at the nuclear program, but now the country's missile program can be cited as a proof of newfound military might.

Will North Koreans succeed in their brinksmanship? History demonstrates that it's likely. The Obama Administration underscored its commitment to diplomatic talks as late as last week. Middle Eastern buyers will soon start frequenting Pyongyang and common North Koreans will feel a bit of patriotic pride which might make them to forget for a while about their empty stomachs.

And who knows: perhaps, later this year, when the first wave of righteous indignation fades, the White House will express its interest in talks about missile control. Needless to say, the North Koreans will demand a huge monetary compensation for freezing their "peaceful space research program."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123892552140890247.html

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: microbial
But all that is a digression, the point I was trying to make (I admit, much too subtly) is: Let's see how BHO responds to NK. I'd be willing to bet he won't take his eye off the ball and do something completely stupid--like Dick and W.

So BHO is going to have a staring contest with North Korea? Bet their shaking in their boots now!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: piasabird
Too bad the launch was a failure.

The rocket went twice as far as anything previously.
It showed that NK to get to all of Aisa if desired. (Targetting is another issue).

Are you sure Japan didn't shoot it down?

Japan states that they only observed. No debris was impacting Japanese airspace either.

 

[seemingly random]

If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

there'd probably be some concern over the fact that South Korea would be a parking lot.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: seemingly random
If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

there'd probably be some concern over the fact that South Korea would be a parking lot.

Why? Does north korea have nuclear weapons now?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: seemingly random
If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

there'd probably be some concern over the fact that South Korea would be a parking lot.

Why? Does north korea have nuclear weapons now?

No, but they have enough artillery to accomplish the same.

 

[JKing106]

Fear! Fear! The North Koreas can shoot a missle to Washington state! It'll cripple the whole country if it hits, with the magical Korean dust spreading out over the country, making us talk about nothing but Korean food!

You people need to get a grip. North Korea poses exactly zero threat to America. And you idiots are lapping up the hate like starving cats. You going to sign up your kids to occupy North Korea, or sign your hypocritical asses up yourselves? Bored with killing brown people? Kill some yellow ones! Yeehaw! Turn the race back on!

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: JKing106
Fear! Fear! The North Koreas can shoot a missle to Washington state! It'll cripple the whole country if it hits, with the magical Korean dust spreading out over the country, making us talk about nothing but Korean food!

You people need to get a grip. North Korea poses exactly zero threat to America. And you idiots are lapping up the hate like starving cats. You going to sign up your kids to occupy North Korea, or sign your hypocritical asses up yourselves? Bored with killing brown people? Kill some yellow ones! Yeehaw! Turn the race back on!

To whom are you referring when you say "you people"?

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: JKing106
Fear! Fear! The North Koreas can shoot a missle to Washington state! It'll cripple the whole country if it hits, with the magical Korean dust spreading out over the country, making us talk about nothing but Korean food!

You people need to get a grip. North Korea poses exactly zero threat to America. And you idiots are lapping up the hate like starving cats. You going to sign up your kids to occupy North Korea, or sign your hypocritical asses up yourselves? Bored with killing brown people? Kill some yellow ones! Yeehaw! Turn the race back on!

To whom are you referring when you say "you people"?

I would guess he meant the hate and fear mongers and pants wetters in this thread.

 

[Dualist]

Originally posted by: piasabird
Too bad the launch was a failure.

The launch may mean they're getting closer to perfecting the making of their missiles.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: Dualist

Originally posted by: piasabird
Too bad the launch was a failure.

The launch may mean they're getting closer to perfecting the making of their missiles.

So in one step their technology jumps from the capabilities of 1942 all the way to 1946.

Impressive.


If anything it exposes their inadequacies.

But it does offer a backwards nation some minimalistic sense of National Pride as having acheived something as a country.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk

Originally posted by: Dualist

Originally posted by: piasabird
Too bad the launch was a failure.

The launch may mean they're getting closer to perfecting the making of their missiles.

So in one step their technology jumps from the capabilities of 1942 all the way to 1946.

Impressive.


If anything it exposes their inadequacies.

But it does offer a backwards nation some minimalistic sense of National Pride as having acheived something as a country.

The NK Dog & Pony show put on by theie sales/marketing team failed.

They are showing that they have the technology, but can not impliment it.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: seemingly random
If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

No, because he would invade and surrender simultaneously.

 

[Pocatello]

Back to the old drawing board.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Time to write them another strongly worded letter

Yeah and send it express delivery affixed to the tip on one our own ICBM's.

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Time to write them another strongly worded letter

maybe if we send an email with an animated gif of a finger wagging. I know, it's harsh, but drastic times call for drastic measures.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: Budmantom

Originally posted by: seemingly random
If the u.s. invaded north korea tomorrow, would obama get respect or just more whining from the naysayers?

No, because he would invade and surrender simultaneously.

Ok. I was just wondering whether to take any of the naysayers' opinions seriously.

 

[Budmantom]

North Korea broke the rules, words must mean someting, violations must be punished....


This man means business.... the world is waiting for actions....and by actions of course I mean a speech, somebody must be writing one hell of a speech so North Korea had better watch out.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Budmantom
North Korea broke the rules, words must mean someting, violations must be punished....


This man means business.... the world is waiting for actions....and by actions of course I mean a speech, somebody must be writing one hell of a speech so North Korea had better watch out.

Give him credit. There will probably be a strongly worded letter, or maybe even a finger shake.