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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNorth Korea threatens pre-emptive nuclear strike on South and the US
North Korea threatened indiscriminate nuclear strikes against South Korea and the US mainland if the two allies push ahead with joint military drills scheduled to begin Monday.
The threat to carry out what it described as a pre-emptive nuclear strike of justice was made in a statement by the Norths powerful National Defence Commission, citing the Supreme Command of the Korean Peoples Army (KPA).
It came just days after leader Kim Jong-Un ordered the countrys nuclear arsenal to be placed on standby for use at any moment, in response to tough new UN sanctions imposed over the Norths fourth nuclear test in January and last months long-range rocket launch.
Pyongyang has issued dire warnings of nuclear attack in the past, usually during periods of elevated military tensions of the Korean peninsula.
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/north-korea-threatens-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike-on-south-and-the-us/
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Is this a threat that should be taken seriously?
metroins
(2,550 posts)I might have to get a bomb shelter.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Would he take action there?
metroins
(2,550 posts)Kim last month wanted talks with the USA. Kerry said no unless he'd talk about removing nukes. Thus the talks got tabled. SK countered by sending music cds and projecting movies.
Kim has to make a threat to sound credible to the NK people.
The media is so controlled there that the people will never hear about the joint exercise. The threat is to get SK to stop with the propaganda pushing.
This is not a real threat.
NK needs food aid badly. So they go all crazy then back off to get us to the table. Little Kim needs to act more threatening than his late father to keep control of the military.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)It does seem like the South Koreans must get pretty jumpy living next door to this lunatic.
metroins
(2,550 posts)And neither does NK.
It would be mutually assured destruction.
Don't be surprised if either party backs off. The "Kim" family has been educated in Switzerland, France, Britain and rumored USA.
They aren't as crazy as they're made out to be.
Much propaganda.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)He just threatened indiscriminate pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the US and SK.
metroins
(2,550 posts)This happens all the time.
Remember, if NK ends up in war, the NK people end up in China as refugees. China controls all Internet and most electricity in and out of NK. China controls NK and supplies it with technology and resources.
Any REAL action from NK would go through China. To think China currently wants a war between the USA right now before their ship fleet or air force has been rebuilt is ludicrous.
A Google search will show the hundreds of times NK threatened unprovoked nuclear warfare.
It's a bargaining chip when their dictator starts to slip in power.
Angel Martin
(942 posts)I think this analysis of NK's antics is the best explanation I have seen.
Basically, Stratfor argues that NK projects itself as "ferocious, crazy and weak" as a regime defence strategy.
https://www.stratfor.com/weekly/ferocious-weak-and-crazy-north-korean-strategy
I have always been struck by what we learn when one of these dicatorships collapses. Inevitably, the top people were always paranoid of being overthrown.
metroins
(2,550 posts)GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)Thanks!
annabanana
(52,791 posts)very good
VMA131Marine
(4,146 posts)They havent demonstrated that they can miniaturize a nuclear weapon so it could fit on a missile or artillery shell. NK certainly does not have the capability of hitting the US with a nuclear warhead. I don't think they even have aircraft capable of carrying a nuclear bomb; not that it would be able to survive in South Korean airspace long enough to deliver it's weapon.
If Kim actually did launch a nuclear strike it would be the last thing he ever did. We would retaliate and obliterate Pyongyang and NK's military.
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)...
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)Anyone believe him this time? Bueller? Bueller?
Yeah me neither.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)Literally, he looks like a pig. No offense to peace loving swine everywhere.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)reasons they need to gas and make largely empty threats.
However, in a nation that is constantly dealing with food shortages, and where the population is actually physically smaller than their neighbors to the south because of malnutrition...
How does this little shit get so fat? Has he by himself caused the shortage for the rest of the country?
yuiyoshida
(41,836 posts)Fat Jokes? That will go over well....
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,836 posts)You are really gonna go with that? Ok, fine, I will let others make their own judgement.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)I am significantly overweight and it is causing me quite a few problems.
However, since I have been able to lose the weight at other times, I am well aware that I am not doing what I should and that it is entirely my responsibility, and therefore my fault, for not losing the weight.
Now even though my personal experience gives me a certain latitude to judge some others, I prefer to keep my opinions to myself for what should be obvious reasons.
Most of the time.
In this guy's case, however, he is the leader of a nation slowly starving to death. North Korea's daily caloric intake is about 2100 calories per adult. While this is admittedly better than the 1880 of the '60s, it's still a lot lower then the WHO recommended 2500 calories, and with constant begging for food aid. And the diet is over 60% single grains, like rice, with few other vegetables or meat.
So, for the leader of a nation that can't feed itself to be so chubby could be reason for additional scorn.
yuiyoshida
(41,836 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,836 posts)especially since you are so good about skating around the obvious with the excuse that because he has done bad deeds, you can make jokes about his weight, like that's perfectly okay. I am glad you didn't chose to go in other directions just to drive a point about how bad he is, cause then some might have a problem with that as well.
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)"Hey Joe. Kinda puttin on a few pounds these days. Talk about someone who could use a good purge."
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I'm sure the haircut is no accident.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Whatever, dude.
GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)Much more than usual.