North Korea: What should the U.S. do?

[AndrewR]

So, if the recent talks fail to produce any change, and North Korea simply adheres to their demands for money, food, and oil using their nuclear program as blackmail, what should the United States do? Do we allow them to continue with their spent fuel rod reprocessing and their production of additional weapons-grade material at Yongbyon, or what other options are there?

China doesn't want a nuclear North Korea; Japan doesn't want a nuclear NK; Russia doesn't want a nuclear NK; South Korea doesn't want a nuclear NK; U.S. doesn't. Does the U.S. engage with these other regional countries for a dialog on action against NK? What will these other countries do if NK is intractable?

Does the U.S. go to the UN? Ask the IAEA to take some sort of action?

Does the U.S. launch a limited military option? What about a blockade, or "quarantine" to borrow from Kennedy, in order to prevent the proliferation of weapons off the peninsula?

Well?

 

[Fencer128]

China doesn't want a nuclear North Korea; Japan doesn't want a nuclear NK; Russia doesn't want a nuclear NK; South Korea doesn't want a nuclear NK; U.S. doesn't. Does the U.S. engage with these other regional countries for a dialog on action against NK? What will these other countries do if NK is intractable?

This has always seemed like the best and first route to be tried for this complicated situation. Whatever happens it is generally agreed that if we fail to exhaust all other avenues and go for something that will create/precipitate a full scale military confrontation the result will be extremely bloody for everyone (and most likely their neighbours too).

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Zebo]

Don't be surprised to wake up one morning and see "Yongbyon Crater" if secret talks are not negotiated to a satisfactory resolution. KIM really will leave us with no choice IMO. Then we wait for thier response which I think will be nothing because KIM can shield his reputation/save face with his tightly controlled media and act like nothing happend to his people..

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
Don't be surprised to wake up one morning and see "Yongbyon Crater" if secret talks are not negotiated to a satisfactory resolution. KIM really will leave us with no choice IMO. Then we wait for thier response which I think will be nothing because KIM can shield his reputation/save face with his tightly controlled media and act like nothing happend to his people..

Yeah, I'm starting to feel this way about the situation. The latest rhetoric out of NK is that they can and will produce nukes to have them for defense and/or sell them if they so choose.

I don't like it but I have to admit they have the right to produce nukes if they want to. Selling them is another matter entirely. If China doesn't get its bastard child in line, I would think a US strike on Yongbyon is not as unlikely as it seemed previously.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Does the U.S. launch a limited military option?

There's no such thing wrt N. Korea.

 

[Zebo]

Did anyone see that PBS special where this BBC journalist was allowed to tour the county with a hottie from thier infromation ministry? They are close to breaking under starvation. Even the govenment representatives like her were anorexic. Soilders along the DMZ did'nt look to healthy either and the reporter never got to see the country side which I imagine get lets rations than PR represetatives.

So I guess we could strave them to thier breaking point/demise by not giving in. But then they say they will sell for food.

I see no alternative but give in or bomb the reactor(s) to save off a human catastrophe.

 

[sean2002]

I say we send a symbolic mesage by doing an above ground test of a 10Megaton airblast Nuclear bomb. They have only seen a 8-10 Kiloton in action, I think seeing a 10 Megaton will change there way of thinking

 

[Ulfwald]

Tell that funny looking little pr!ck of a dicktator to STFU, and if he wishes to help his country, he can take out a loan and use the money to fix his country, then pay it back once they begin producing something of worth that they can export and sell.

 

[Tiger]

We wait them out.
If we attack yongbyon and miss the nukes they've already got they will use them.
If we wait them out they might use them.
If they use them we turn the place into a parking lot and let the Chinese clean up the mess.

 

[apoppin]

I'd suggest bombing the NK reactor WITHOUT taking responsibility for the attack.

 

[Fencer128]

Originally posted by: apoppin
I'd suggest bombing the NK reactor WITHOUT taking responsibility for the attack.

How would that work exactly?

Cheers,

Andy

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Fencer128

Originally posted by: apoppin
I'd suggest bombing the NK reactor WITHOUT taking responsibility for the attack.

How would that work exactly?

Cheers,

Andy

Letsee, fly a plane over the reactor and drop a bomb . . . a missle works too.

Then when NK reacts, CONDEMN the action and DENY all knowledge of it (suggest it was "terrorism").

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Fencer128

Originally posted by: apoppin
I'd suggest bombing the NK reactor WITHOUT taking responsibility for the attack.

How would that work exactly?

Cheers,

Andy

We have super secret technology that can deliver entire armies unseen, of course.

Here is an interesting scenario. Since preemptive attacks are now the norm and given that NK poses more of a potential threat than Iraq ever did, there is now precident for first strike with far less provocation. Since NK may be able to launch a nuclear tipped missle at American territory, an argument could be made for a nuclear strike against NK, preventing their attack against any country by any organized means, conventional or nuclear. Why not? Neither China nor Russia will stop us. Oh they will fuss after the fact, but they are irrevelent. No one would dare oppose the US for any reason, and they would be an example. Don't think it will happen, but then again you don't know. One bomb where the leadership resides, and a few more where their nukes may be. Over in one day. Nice solution huh?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider

Originally posted by: Fencer128

Originally posted by: apoppin
I'd suggest bombing the NK reactor WITHOUT taking responsibility for the attack.

How would that work exactly?

Cheers,

Andy

We have super secret technology that can deliver entire armies unseen, of course.

Here is an interesting scenario. Since preemptive attacks are now the norm and given that NK poses more of a potential threat than Iraq ever did, there is now precident for first strike with far less provocation. Since NK may be able to launch a nuclear tipped missle at American territory, an argument could be made for a nuclear strike against NK, preventing their attack against any country by any organized means, conventional or nuclear. Why not? Neither China nor Russia will stop us. Oh they will fuss after the fact, but they are irrevelent. No one would dare oppose the US for any reason, and they would be an example. Don't think it will happen, but then again you don't know. One bomb where the leadership resides, and a few more where their nukes may be. Over in one day. Nice solution huh?

It's a "little" overkill.

The precident has ALREADY been set when Israel PREemptively bombed Iraq's reactor before the first Gulf War.

A single well-placed bomb - or a series - into the Nuclear Reactor at Yongbyon, would END NK's nuclear program for EVER. And there would be minimal casualties as most of the radiation would be contained in the crater.

If the US went for a NK regeme change, both Russia and China would demand an "accounting". Whereas a single tactical strike against an illegal "weapons facility" would be a relief to everyone.

And IF it were DENIED by the US, what's NK to believe? Afterall, both Russia and China together with US "could have" done it.

 

[Nitemare]

We could consult the ball-less UN, but they might find them considering North Korea does not have oil in which to borrow France and Germany's balls.


I say fark them...

Send in intelligence to gather weapons informations. Launch an artillery barrage to take out the nuclear reactors, nuke locations, anti aircraft locations, and Kim Jong. Station troops in south Korea to kill anyone or anything that enters the DMZ. when North Korea decides to elect a non-insane ruler than we can talk.

 

[Alistar7]

NK demands for unilateral talks with only the US was their first mistake, thankfully they realized their error and allowed others to attend as the US insisted.

The claim they are free to SELL their nukes was the last mistake. They are just bargaining for aid, and this is the only way to stay in the spotlight, but that line might backfire.

If we take out their nuclear capability we better take responsibility for the action, show some balls people.

We could create and sign a UN resoltuion banning this action, and then do it anyway, we can dress the soldiers up as german, chineese, french, and russian arms dealers to make this scenarion complete.......

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Alistar7


If we take out their nuclear capability we better take responsibility for the action, show some balls people.

Why bother? NK isn't worth a "formal declaration" IF negotiations fail. Let them "wonder" which of their many enemies did it.

 

[Red Dawn]

I would tell China that they could have Tiawan without any intereference from us if they were to take out the regime in NK.

 

[Conky]

I think the US should pull out of South Korea and let them, China, and Japan worry about North Korea.

South Korea's latest leader got elected on a campaign of US-bashing and they have been saying they want us out of their country so let's give them what they want. We could move the currently stationed troops to Iraq to help keep the Iranians out and give Iraq a chance at a new fairly elected government.

China and Japan have much more to worry about a nuclear N. Korea than the USA does. It's time for China to pitch in and help keep that side of the planet in line.

We were helping out the miserably poor North Koreans and they reneged on their part of the deal. The mess they are in is a result of idiotic leadership. That goofy North Korean dictator is just nuts.. just look at his hair.

 

[Red Dawn]

just look at his hair.

Hey he has the standard Bucket Head Haircut!

 

[DukeFan21]

There was someone on one of the news stations recently who said that if we would launch a strike on the North's reactors, they would respond by attacking Seoul...he said that they have enough artillery locked on Seoul to destroy half of the city in just a few hours, and he predicted about 1/3 of the population would be killed (about 15 million out of 45 million). Note that this is just from artillery, not any nukes that they have.

And if they are smart, they aren't storing their nukes at Yongbyon.

 

[Alistar7]

NK demands for unilateral talks with only the US was their first mistake, thankfully they realized their error and allowed others to attend as the US insisted.

The claim they are free to SELL their nukes was the last mistake. They are just bargaining for aid, and this is the only way to stay in the spotlight, but that line might backfire.

The United States is reviewing a North Korean proposal to give up the nation's missiles and nuclear facilities in exchange for substantial U.S. economic benefits, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Monday.

Powell: N. Korea Ties Disarmament to Aid
Mon Apr 28, 9:39 PM ET

Not bad, beat the news by a good 11 hours, what a "guess".....

 

[human2k]

Nothing.

 

[JellyBaby]

Alistar7, yep seems like bribes are standard fare. Then wait 'til NK makes a fatal mistake then do it the "other way".

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: human2k
Nothing.

We should wipe out both NK and SK, then turn whats left over to the UN. We do Iraq, they do the united Korea, yeah, that's right, we are all about freeing koreans (sounds funny, doesn't it, it's never gonna catch on for Bush). Whoever does the better job gets a free pass on UN dues for the next 10 years. Of course if we lose, we won't pay anyway.....