Clearly, Trump is looking for an excuse to bomb North Korea.

[MineralMan]

When will he do it? Sooner than later, I think. His language, Pence's language. along with other statements seem to indicate that he will take some sort of military action very soon.

I know of no way to stop him from doing so. Brace yourselves, and keep your seat belts fastened. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I am so afraid that you're right.

He'll do it to get a bump in his ratings, at this point.

[maryellen99]

2. I still think he's going to bomb/nuke NK

Even though that test NK did was a failure.

[JI7]

3. so seoul would be destroyed

Which trump wouldn't care about.

[Orrex]

6. Exactly correct on both counts

Also, North Korea will likely take a swipe at Japan with whatever it can muster along the way.

[EX500rider]

9. Not destroyed but certainly damaged..

The North Korean military's most powerful tool is artillery. It cannot level Seoul as some reports have claimed, but it could do significant damage. Pyongyang risks deteriorating its forces by exposing them to return fire, however, which significantly restricts their use. Less conventional methods of retaliation, such as sabotage or cyber warfare, are less risky but also limit the shock that North Korea would desire.
After a strike, North Korea's most immediate and expected method of retaliation would center around conventional artillery. Many of the North's indirect fire systems are already located on or near the border with South Korea. By virtue of proximity and simplicity, these systems have a lower preparatory and response times than air assets, larger ballistic missiles or naval assets. Nevertheless, there are several critical limitations to their effectiveness.

The biggest anticipated cost of a North Korean artillery barrage in response to an attack would be the at least partial destruction of Seoul. But the volume of fire that the North can direct against the South Korean capital is limited by some important factors. Of the vast artillery force deployed by the North along the border, only a small portion — Koksan 170-mm self-propelled guns, as well as 240-mm and 300-mm multiple launch rocket systems — are capable of actually reaching Seoul. Broadly speaking, the bulk of Pyongyang's artillery can reach only into the northern border area of South Korea or the northern outskirts of Seoul. All forms of North Korean artillery have problems with volume and effectiveness of fire, but those issues are often more pronounced for the longer-range systems. Problems include the high malfunction rate of indigenous ammunition, poorly trained artillery crews, and a reluctance to expend critical artillery assets by exposing their positions.
Based on the few artillery skirmishes that have occurred, roughly 25 percent of North Korean shells and rockets fail to detonate on target. Even allowing for improvements and assuming a massive counterstrike artillery volley would be more successful, a failure rate as high as 15 percent would take a significant bite out of the actual explosive power on target. The rate of fire and accuracy of North Korean artillery systems is also expected to be subpar. This belief is founded on the observably poor performance of North Korean artillery crews during past skirmishes and exercises. Though inaccuracy is less noticeable in a tactical sense — especially as part of a "countervalue attack," where civilian areas are targeted — at the higher level an artillery retaliation rapidly becomes a numbers game.

Ineffective crews also rapidly curtail the potential for severe damage. Rate of fire is crucial to the survivability of artillery systems — the name of the game is to get the most rounds on target in the shortest period of time, lest your position be identified and destroyed before the fire mission is complete. Poor training translates to a greatly reduced volume of fire and a painfully limited duration of effectiveness.

https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/how-north-korea-would-retaliate

[Lil Missy]

4. Of course he is.

[ProudLib72]

5. You're right but doing so would be short sighted

After the body count in SK including our own troops stationed there, he would be in huge trouble.

[OldHippieChick]

7. I am certain he would do it today, but he does seem to be listening to

the military, who might not be as anxious to bomb NK as they have been Syria and Afghanistan. Hopefully a clear head will prevail.

[DFW]

8. I don't think he'll get to give the order

The number of Congresspeople alone who own Samsung equipment for which they'll need spare parts should stop him in his tracks.

Seriously, the body count on both side of the 38th parallel, would ensure his removal from office within a month. He'd still be cheered by the fanatic 20%, but they would cheer a return of the Third Reich, too, so that can't be taken into consideration when forming policy.

[EL34x4]

10. I agree.

I think the plan, however, is to figure out a way that doesn't flood China with refugees.

There's some sort of regime change in the works. Get rid of Kim but still allow for Juche rule, --albeit a softer, less batshit crazy version that's willing to give up their nuclear program and answers to China.

The risk, of course, is nuclear war.

But, yes,I think it's coming soon.

[RKP5637]

11. I think the US military will override (hopefully) any orders he gives if they are outrageous. I

think they might take out Kim. However, if they launch another missile, then I think all hell might break out.

[MineralMan]

13. No, they won't, actually.

They will present a set of possible actions, and will recommend some more than others. It always remains the President's decision, though. That's the system that is in place. The Military cannot override the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. That will not occur at this point.

[Wellstone ruled]

14. This will be the likely

scenario .

[RKP5637]

17. Scary times MM. Yes, this should be the course of action! n/t

[wiggs]

12. They worked really hard to find an excuse to go into Iraq. Didn't really find a genuine

excuse, so they made several up.

[beachbum bob]

15. trump needs no excuse...and it will be more than a just a bumpy ride if and when he does do it

[MineralMan]

23. I was understating deliberately.

[lpbk2713]

16. War has always meant good business for the GOP.

The kids of Libs fight and die while wealthy conservatives get even more wealthy.

They are drooling over the possibility of hostilities with NK.

[RKP5637]

20. MIC is licking their chops! Big $$$$$'s in war, death, maiming, destruction and rebuilding.

Humans at work.

[NurseJackie]

18. A war with Democratic People's Republic of Korea would bring the USA to its knees.

Our nation is not ready for what will happen. It will not be a one-and-done slap on the wrist. The USA will have to deal with retribution of some sort, and it just escalates from there.

It's been nice knowing you all.

[spanone]

19. shame on congress if they let him do what he 'wishes'..he's looking for ratings..that's all he knows

north korea's target:

With 28,500 American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in South Korea, U.S. forces in South Korea are a major presence in the region and a key manifestation of the U.S. government's aim to rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_Korea

[cbdo2007]

21. Yep he knows it will be harder to remove him

[edhopper]

22. There is no legal way he can do that

without an act of Congress.

But he will do it anyway and Congress will roll over for him.

[briv1016]

24. Authorization for first strike nuclear attacks lie solely with the president.

The only person that could stop him would be Pence through use of the 25th amendment, and he appears to be pro-bombing.