The fear of North Korea

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Could this be an invisible-WMD-type-ploy in order to justify pre-emptive action of some kind?
.......Or am I being overly cynical there?

They're quantum WMDs, they only exist in an excited state.

[klr]

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Suppose a conflict started with non-nuclear weapons and KJU ended up catching a smart bomb or something early on...Would the NK military see sense and call it a day, do you think?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Suppose a conflict started with non-nuclear weapons and KJU ended up catching a smart bomb or something early on...Would the NK military see sense and call it a day, do you think?

Two (at least) fields of thought on that.

1. They wake up and smell the coffee.

2. Somebody sees a chance to step into Kim's pudgy shoes.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Suppose a conflict started with non-nuclear weapons and KJU ended up catching a smart bomb or something early on...Would the NK military see sense and call it a day, do you think?

Two (at least) fields of thought on that.

1. They wake up and smell the coffee.

2. Somebody sees a chance to step into Kim's pudgy still-smoking shoes.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Surely the generals etc. must know he's mad as a box of frogs, though?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You have to figure that only the most ruthless cut-throat mother-humpers would be in the circle that could hope to continue the current regime, so we might get lucky and they kill each other off to the last man, and somebody sane would then have a shot, maybe.

In any case, killing Kim would be like killing Showa in 1945, the rest of the country wouldn't know for sure who to take orders from.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Surely the generals etc. must know he's mad as a box of frogs, though?

"Gentlemen, we must act quickly to protect our bullshit jobs!" (Mel Brooks, "Blazing Saddles")

They know he's nuts, but they're on top of that miserable heap, so they go along just to have the fancy houses and big cars and enough to eat.

[MiM]

Suppose a conflict started with non-nuclear weapons and KJU ended up catching a smart bomb or something early on...Would the NK military see sense and call it a day, do you think?

3. We don't even know if KJU has any real power at the moment, or if he only is a puppet for the powers behind (which might be the family, the generals, or some mix...)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Suppose a conflict started with non-nuclear weapons and KJU ended up catching a smart bomb or something early on...Would the NK military see sense and call it a day, do you think?

3. We don't even know if KJU has any real power at the moment, or if he only is a puppet for the powers behind (which might be the family, the generals, or some mix...)

I'm weak on that one. I think he could say "shoot that guy" and a dozen bullets would hit the poor sap in an instant. I'm betting he's in the same position Saddam was before we invaded.

[Rum]

I have read that there were a lot of manoeuvrings, including arrests, shootings and power plays amongst the leadership class prior to the current lad coming into power. There seems to be a school of thought that the current kufuffle is fallout from that - quite possibly distraction tactics aimed at the NK population.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I have read that there were a lot of manoeuvrings, including arrests, shootings and power plays amongst the leadership class prior to the current lad coming into power. There seems to be a school of thought that the current kufuffle is fallout from that - quite possibly distraction tactics aimed at the NK population.

I think it's very close to what the True Believers claim an atheistic society would be like. Back-stabbing, maneuvering, plotting, etc., constantly. One wrong word and you're toast.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

I have read that there were a lot of manoeuvrings, including arrests, shootings and power plays amongst the leadership class prior to the current lad coming into power. There seems to be a school of thought that the current kufuffle is fallout from that - quite possibly distraction tactics aimed at the NK population.

You mean the old familar trick where if things are going tits up on the home front you cause a war as a distraction and to draw the country together to face a common enemy? Sounds pretty plausible, to me.

[Tero]

I have read that there were a lot of manoeuvrings, including arrests, shootings and power plays amongst the leadership class prior to the current lad coming into power. There seems to be a school of thought that the current kufuffle is fallout from that - quite possibly distraction tactics aimed at the NK population.

I think it's very close to what the True Believers claim an atheistic society would be like. Back-stabbing, maneuvering, plotting, etc., constantly. One wrong word and you're toast.

I never get much support for my idea, where I claim people will always figure out an us and them attitude, religion or not. So while religion is evil, I'm aftaid we are just wired for this. Man will always look for some "agent" behind actions. In religion the agent does have more power, though.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I have read that there were a lot of manoeuvrings, including arrests, shootings and power plays amongst the leadership class prior to the current lad coming into power. There seems to be a school of thought that the current kufuffle is fallout from that - quite possibly distraction tactics aimed at the NK population.

I think it's very close to what the True Believers claim an atheistic society would be like. Back-stabbing, maneuvering, plotting, etc., constantly. One wrong word and you're toast.

I never get much support for my idea, where I claim people will always figure out an us and them attitude, religion or not. So while religion is evil, I'm aftaid we are just wired for this. Man will always look for some "agent" behind actions. In religion the agent does have more power, though.

We're pack animals. In-group, out-group behavior is normal for us. Not nice, but normal.