North Korea to increase 'Military Deterent'.

I don't think the Taepodong 2 is much of a threat. From what I've seen, it only seems capable of hitting Alaska and Hawaii - the stuff about it being able to reach the West coast is merely alarmist exaggeration. Even if it could, its meant to be really inaccurate, so it would not have much chance of destroying anything significant. It may not even hit anything but snow in Alaska, given that there aren't many strategic targets there, and they're to small for it to hit accurately given its large CEP.





Heres a few BBC articles about the affair, and the North's missiles. Theres also a video of the '98 test. KCNA has kept quiet about the missile so far - apart from its regular anti-american rants. I remember reading an article in the Korea times that a North Korean missile crashed in Alaska was found, but its probably just hearsay. Here it is.

One thing I've noticed is that a lot of times, it looks like "side X" is making a provocative move, but years later, when the secrets leak out, it turns out that "side X" is really responding to a secret provocation by "side Y".

So in this case, it looks like NK is ready to rattle some sabres with its Taepodong, but maybe the US has been stepping up clandestine activities? Like maybe some UAV or SOF penetration? (pure speculation of course)

Either way, the US administration now is not going to let this go. I'm sure they are looking for ways to tighten the screws around NK. The tensions may be higher than it looks on the surface.

Roger604 said:

One thing I've noticed is that a lot of times, it looks like "side X" is making a provocative move, but years later, when the secrets leak out, it turns out that "side X" is really responding to a secret provocation by "side Y".

So in this case, it looks like NK is ready to rattle some sabres with its Taepodong, but maybe the US has been stepping up clandestine activities? Like maybe some UAV or SOF penetration? (pure speculation of course)

Either way, the US administration now is not going to let this go. I'm sure they are looking for ways to tighten the screws around NK. The tensions may be higher than it looks on the surface.

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Roger you may have a point on the deployment of UAV's over N. Korea. seems to me I read an article last year about that subject..


Here's one denying the deployment.


Here's another saying they were deployed in 2004

I watched ABC World News and in it US officials stated that they may shoot down the missile if it is launched. I myself highly doubt that the US will follow up on that rhetoric since a two stage missile is almost impossible to shoot down with the current technology the US has.

I don't know guys but sometimes I listen to the Iran and NK nuclear programs and all the fuss. Why not let them be. just be quite, and watch them closely. Why make them heroes "because they have guts to confront the West"?

Maybe I am missing something BIG here, but they have a right (except of course flying missiles in somebody else's air space). Why don't we be comfortable and work at our own defence? Let each man decide how he wants to defend his household! ???

Well it seems to be the USA being the only remaining superpower, effectively a hyperpower causes it, to have alot of power, i guess the USA just like using it, why sit there when you can consistently bully other states that can even have any slight hiderance at your own power, i do not think the USA wants anyone to replace them at the top, so i think that means even the slightest crap can come up and the USA thinks it can bully the other country into submission so it gets what it wants. They have the power though.

pngwerume said:

I don't know guys but sometimes I listen to the Iran and NK nuclear programs and all the fuss. Why not let them be. just be quite, and watch them closely. Why make them heroes "because they have guts to confront the West"?

Maybe I am missing something BIG here, but they have a right (except of course flying missiles in somebody else's air space). Why don't we be comfortable and work at our own defence? Let each man decide how he wants to defend his household! ???

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Alright. I'm going to step off a proverbial ledge here. I only hope I hit a matress at the botom.

Many countries have nuclear programs, but the U.S and Western Allies are the most worried about Iran and North Korea because of their sketchy records. But personaly, I think that North Korea is the bigger threat.

Not so much because of what they may do, but because of what they may not want to do. North Korea's missile technology is so faulty and out of date that there is a good chance that they could accidently nuke themselves or accidently nuke some other country. You remember that whole thing a few months ago when North Korea suppousedly accidently sent a missile into China? (Why on earth would Kim Jong send a missile into China to provoke conflict anyway)

And of course, a big issue with Iran and North Korea is their general proximity to potential high-conflict areas such as Isreal and South Korea. And there is also the problems with sudden regime changes. Although it is incredibly and obviously egotistical to say, most do not feel they can trust these nations with nuclear weaponry.

Well, that's my bone in my hat with two cents added for good measure.

pngwerume said:

I don't know guys but sometimes I listen to the Iran and NK nuclear programs and all the fuss. Why not let them be. just be quite, and watch them closely. Why make them heroes "because they have guts to confront the West"?

Maybe I am missing something BIG here, but they have a right (except of course flying missiles in somebody else's air space). Why don't we be comfortable and work at our own defence? Let each man decide how he wants to defend his household! ???

Click to expand...

The thing with North korea though, is that they want the attention of the west - they hope they will get incentives to boost their economy and get foreign aid - the regime is desperate to survive without changing the country from its Soviet-style system. To do this it needs aid and economic assistance to stay in power. The less attention we give them, the further they will go - or if we offer them more aid to stop their programmes, they may carry on with the same strategy. Its a desperate blackmail and threat strategy for a communist country that is highly fragile and on the verge of total structural collapse. Since the U.S. is the richest country in the world, having a missile that can reach it is ideal for you to blackmail it to give you assistance. If North korea was an indivdual person, it would be an aggresive hobo with a knife theretening passes by to give him food or money.

I still say the US used nuclear bombs in anger. And probably has fought more wars than anybody else and in foreign lands.

Somehow, i would rather we look at a good defence and not bother anybody about what they are doing. I don't want some guy coming to tell me what to do in my house - I will tell him to f^&* off!

Thinking level headedly here, I would not let my enermy tie my hands down. The US would not accept that. Somehow I feel if we are to be fair (or am I dreaming??), let them do their thing. They have a right. Let us do our.

Somehow with the pre-emptive strike justifications and the policy to remove unfriendly governments, as soon as a US foreign secretary announces they are working on a change of government in my country, I will get nervous and arm myself. Why cannot we be Americans and let them be Venezuelans or Iranians or NK. Why do we need to tell them who to run their lives? Maybe comment on their behaviour, yes, but I feel we do more than just that. I feel we do get the other guys nervous and untrusting. We contribute to the instability. If we let them be, even in the next 50 years I don’t see them ever setting out to attack the USA.

The International community would have taken action against North Korea a considerable time ago, had it not for been the close proximity of South Korea and Japan.

Kim Jong Il is holding S.Korea and Japan as hostages. Thus a military action can result in a retaliation on these 2 nations and now even on the USA (with the development of this ICBM).

The other major reason for worry of the USA is that North Korea's missile may be proliferated to other potential enemies such as Iran, Syria, Libya etc.

It is also unlikely that this missile shall ever be tested, as North Korea is unlikely to have such technology upon starving its people and prolonged technical isolation from the world.