Expert: NKorea-to-US nuke strike possible from next year

[FBM]

It may be safer here in Seoul than in the US pretty soon...

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/htm ... 00800.html

Top Strategist Says N.Korea Will Be Able to Nuke U.S. in 2012


North Korea will by next year have developed a downsized nuclear warhead that can be attached to ballistic missiles and fired onto the U.S. mainland, a senior U.S. strategist predicted this week.

The rogue state will continue experimenting with intercontinental ballistic missiles that put the U.S. within striking distance until it succeeds in 2012, said Larry Niksch, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.


His prediction came during a seminar on North Korean affairs hosted by the Korea Economic Institute in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. It was reported by the Voice of America on Thursday.

Niksch said that if Pyongyang secures the appropriate technology, it will never abandon its nuclear program, thereby rendering the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the country ineffective. He said the U.S. needs to fundamentally rework its policies regarding the North's nuclear weapons programs in order to make progress.

He went on to say that the U.S. strategy of trading denuclearization for the prospect of establishing diplomatic ties with Washington will continue to depreciate in value as the North becomes stronger militarily.

Niksch envisaged a future scenario in which the U.S. would need to station an ambassador in the North Korean capital to manage the nuclear weapon risks in the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, the U.S. would be compelled to recognize the communist state as a de-facto nuclear power.

englishnews@chosun.com / Jun. 17, 2011 10:39 KST

[laklak]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[Atheist-Lite]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

I think that may be the plan. We're not dealing with the most rational kid on the nuclear block here.

[laklak]

Might not be that bad an idea. He doesn't seem to like us much.

[FBM]

Might not be that bad an idea. He doesn't seem to like us much.



Translation: If a war of aggression arises, we'll start with bombing the American bastards.

[Atheist-Lite]

Might not be that bad an idea. He doesn't seem to like us much.



Translation: If a war of aggression arises, we'll start with bombing the American bastards.

Pre-emptive strike? America came up with the idea first...!!!

[FBM]

Sadly, there's no way the US would launch a pre-emptive strike on China's border, tho.

[Ian]

Well, if this happens then the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea will just be putting us out of our misery. Haven't you heard about the recent survey listing the happiness index of various nations? The US is the least-happy country in the world. The happiest country is China, followed closely by North Korea. According to the objective, scientific research done by a team of North Korean analysts...

[mistermack]

Objectively, bombing the shit out of North Korea might be a good idea.
But the US has got itself stuck in a sticky spider's web.

China backs North Korea. And not only does it have a huge military, built with wealth from US trade, it also owns most of the US debt. So the US is relatively powerless. It is already dancing to a Chinese tune, and it had better get used to it, because that spider's web gets more sticky every day.
.

[FBM]

Well, if this happens then the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea will just be putting us out of our misery. Haven't you heard about the recent survey listing the happiness index of various nations? The US is the least-happy country in the world. The happiest country is China, followed closely by North Korea. According to the objective, scientific research done by a team of North Korean analysts...

Yeah, I read that one. Sparkling bit of research on the part of our comrades to the north, eh?

http://www.nktoday.com/contents/view_co ... ness-index

Our former colleague Jen Lee flagged this important report now circulating in the Chinese media: North Korea’s own “happiness index.” Astonishingly, North Korea is not number one:

1. China.

2. North Korea.

3. Cuba.

4. Iran.

5. Venezuela.

…

152. South Korea.

…

203. The United States.

A part of this post was moved to the derail thread http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 20#p889965
-- Ronja

[MiM]

Right. After one fizzle and one probably successful test and (as far as I remember) not a single successful rocket (even without payload), DPRK all of a sudden is going to achieve the weapon miniaturisation and rocket design required in one year?

I wonder what kind of special insight into the worlds most secretive powers most secret military program this alleged expert has ?

[Atheist-Lite]

Right. After one fizzle and one probably successful test and (as far as I remember) not a single successful rocket (even without payload), DPRK all of a sudden is going to achieve the weapon miniaturisation and rocket design required in one year?

I wonder what kind of special insight into the worlds most secretive powers most secret military program this alleged expert has ?

A year? I've read somewhere it'll only take 45 minutes.

[laklak]

Inspired by Glorious Leader, new ICBM design:

[Svartalf]

Yes, specially designed for flying low and countering standard antimissile countermeasures... now, IIRC, exploding a nuke in the harbor is not the best way to ravage the town.

[Robert_S]

Objectively, bombing the shit out of North Korea might be a good idea.
But the US has got itself stuck in a sticky spider's web.

China backs North Korea. And not only does it have a huge military, built with wealth from US trade, it also owns most of the US debt. So the US is relatively powerless. It is already dancing to a Chinese tune, and it had better get used to it, because that spider's web gets more sticky every day.
.

China owns some of our debt, true. That is, they own paper saying we'll pay up with x interest in x years. How much good would that be during a war? Also, what would happen to China should the US suddenly stops buying Chinese goods?

Who's in who's web?