N.Korea

[Taekwondo Guy]

At least six ballistic missiles, including a long-range weapon capable of reaching US soil, were launched overnight.
There are claims in South Korea and Japan that at least one more missile has been fired this morning. Russian military sources suggested that as many as 10 rockets had already been fired.
The long-range missiles failed 40 seconds after launch and all of them landed in the Sea of Japan.
Tokyo expressed outrage and requested the UN talks begin as soon as possible. It has threatened "stern measures" including possible economic sanctions.

Six rockets fell into the Sea of Japan
In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, protesters burned North Korean flags and paraded images of a caricature of the country's dictator, Kim Jong-Il, being hanged.
US Northern Command said the missiles posed no threat to America. There had been reports that the missiles could reach Alaska.
However, Stephen Hadley, the US national security adviser, described the launches as "provocative behaviour".
Sky News Asia correspondent Dominic Waghorn said Kim was considered a serious threat.

He said: "Kim Jong-Il is unpredictable, he's secretive, he's very hard to call, he's erratic and he's increasingly in a more desperate position.
"That means he's going to take bigger chances. He's potentially a bigger threat than Saddam Hussein and a bigger threat than Iran.
"If you put that together with the nuclear warheads we believe he has and the possibility of striking against America, it's a very dangerous combination."

things are going to get interesting!

[narcsarge]

Check out our other forum relating to this topic. It already has gotten interesting. Of course, some of your countryman are smacking us yanks around! You see, shhh now, we caused all of this! Shhhhh!

[NiteHawk]

I agree. Thats a pretty scary situation over there.

[Fats[]]

That is very scary.

[TRAZ]

The newspaper headlines have that NK has just tested long range missles...It is going to get ugly soon!

Has anyone seen that documentary about NK (I can't remember the name ) that came out recently where the guy actually filmed alot of never before seen places and events in NK? It is amazing how controlled the people are...When the founder of their current form of government died a few years back (his son is in power currently) the entire country was filmed outside his palace. All were weeping loudly and uncontrollably...It was amazing to hear the sound of millions wailing like that...Haunting...

[TorontoMoFo]

see you all on the other side!

[mywetnightmares]

He's just throwing a temper tantrum to get attention and leverage, he's not going to do anything serious because he knows if he does we'll turn his country into a parking lot.

[B4n3 0n3]

Last thing we need right now is a war on North Korea, we have enough problems with our other two wars at the moment: Iraq and terror.

[Taekwondo Guy]

iran is getting loads of deals thrown its way due to the nuclear saga, n.korea feels its getting a rough deal so its throwing its toys out of the pram (missiles in this case) to promote more talks to maybe get a deal similar to iran IMO.

america and the UN want a peaceful solution so they offer economic leverage to sway them away from nuclear weapons.

N.korea has a crap economy and any trade sanction would cripple them as china cannot openly support them now due to the missile testing.

japan has raised its military stand by level (more of a bluff IMO when they have little way to do anything with their armed forces)

china
iran
america
korea (north and south)
UN alliance

all these are involved with the current issue, should be interesting to see how this pans out. Action has to be taken as to sit by and do nothing is giving the green light for other rogue governments to start similar stunts.

July 4th, missiles capable of reaching the US are launched.... also minutes before the discovery shuttle launch, couldnt be better timed for america's attention

[dinosaur]

I had a long conversation this past weekend with a girl who just came to the US from South Korea 3 months ago. The North Korean government needs to be GONE... there's a lot going on that doesn't make it to the international news (big surprise, communism and all)

[RRAdam]

eh, one us nuclear sub and NK is a burnt spot on the map. if they manage to get one off, star wars will take care of that. im not worried.

[NiteHawk]

Well North Korea better not upset China. That would be a bad move for them.

[xenog]

It sucks for me because my wife and kids are in Japan. I think hes getting desperate because his country is going down the toilet. I say just let thier economy run its self in the ground then we can go in there to help the survivors and liberate the people.

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by NiteHawk

Well North Korea better not upset China. That would be a bad move for them.

Right now Nite, it doesn't look as if China even cares. For years China has supported N. Korea because of the communist governments. China props up N. Korea as the U.S. has done for other countries. I don't think the Chinese have anything to gain by pressuring N. Korea into joining talks about their nuclear programs. Russia certainly has not been an ally and China is rather non-committal about the whole deal.

[Taekwondo Guy]

Originally Posted by RRAdam

eh, one us nuclear sub and NK is a burnt spot on the map. if they manage to get one off, star wars will take care of that. im not worried.

there is no star wars project as yet right?

[huknuts]

"The United Nations Security Council members were in emergency talks on Wednesday to consider their response to North Korea test-firing at least seven missiles.

The closed-door meeting was requested by Tokyo after Pyongyang test-fired seven missiles on Wednesday, including a long-range Taepodong-2 capable of reaching US soil, sparking fierce condemnation from neighbouring Japan and the United States.

Diplomats said they do not expect any resolution to be voted today and were not sure whether the 15-member Council will issue a consensus statement, a step lower than resolution."
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"The appetite for punitive action is limited in the U.N. Security Council, which met Wednesday to discuss the issue. But even if military action against North Korea were a plausible option — and it isn't — it would required a greater provocation than a missile test that remained within the bounds of international law.-Time"
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"The North Korean missile test appears to be an attempt by North Korea to break the diplomatic impasse — possibly out of desperation to relieve the financial stress on its sclerotic economy..."


I cant find a general overview of the current status of Korea's economic conditions but to save you the trouble of readingstale reports, imagine Americas great depression, throw in some communism and third world country as well as a cock juggling fool as a leader and there you go.

In regards to Xenogs comment, as well as those worried about homeland defense, the koreans missles are based off of the russian missles which are outdated pieces of ****. Not to mention the soviets back in the day had to different models of just about everything including tanks wepons etc that they would supply countries other than there own behind the iron curtain with including egypt. Which the koreans reverse engineered there missles from as well as tryed making them intercontinnental missles. In essence a bootleg of a bootleg. In addition to this given their recent stunt im sure there are countermesures being taken as we speak if they are not already in place, regardless of their potential to strike, not that they would.

In regards to china's involvement in this ordeal; any instability in Korea would produce a bad image on China and since china is rapidly industrializing and growing this could deter potential investors, which the chinese will have no patience for. Not to mention Korea was obviousely doing this for attention/ leverage in negotiations however i beleive this may have been detrimental to their cause, proving how ****tiy their military capabilities are.

[huknuts]

Originally Posted by Taekwondo Guy

there is no star wars project as yet right?

I think they are in the beggining phases... and im pretty sure the star wars projects refer to anything to do with missle defense, correct me if your sure im wrong.


I watched a thing on the discovery channel or history? about missle defense and the most current and up to date ones and its the aegis system im pretty sure, anyways to make a long story short missle defense technologys are very very hard to make effective ones and they gist of the show made you beleive that no matter the system, if you get a sophisticated enough missle the chances of defelecting it are slim to none,

http://www.rand.org/pubs/issue_papers/IP181/index2.html
if you have time that puts what i just said in more coherent and intelligent words.

[RRAdam]

Originally Posted by Taekwondo Guy

there is no star wars project as yet right?

I would be willing to bet that there is, and has been since regan brought it up a few years back.

[Taekwondo Guy]

allowing a missile to get through would no doubt allow the US to start a ground war...