Is Korea About to Nuke Seoul?

It occurred to me that North Korea would not actually need a missile to deliver and set off a nuclear device in, above or near Seoul.

Seoul and its surrounding area houses 25 million people in a small area. It sits less than 50 miles from the DMZ.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/3bdde261b7b0.gif[/atsimg]

The Inch'on region on the coast is part of this huge population.

I know that in its current state of development, NK's nuclear weapons are not able to be mounted on missile, but why would they need to do that. They clearly have devices that work. Why could they not deliver a device on board a ship or a plane?

They would not even need to get to their target in fact. If it detonated in the air near the border it could likely knock out the electronics over a large area.

If they accomplished that it would open the door for their 950,000 man standing Army and its 600,000 reserves to unload all their artillery and swarm over the border. How do you defend against a huge Infantry on your own or your Allies land? You don't without huge losses.

Imagine what this scenario would unleash? All they would have to do is get the device near to this area. One suicide Pilot on a plane with a bomb rigged to go off if the plane were hit would do the job. No communications, disabled vehicles and armaments.

This would leave us facing a scenario similar to WW1. Hand to hand combat on the ground with this huge Army.

If NK's Leaders are on a suicidal course imagine the carnage they could unleash. We were out of our minds allowing them to develop to this point.

Scuds can carry nukes. China gave the small warhead design to Pak and now everyone has it. Hell Clinton gave it to China. North Korea has lots of Scuds. They could strap a tractor trailer to it and shoot it 50 miles. Sobering thought hu?

reply to post by Sky watcher


I think their current devices are to large for a Scud, but how do we really know? It certainly could be carried in a plane or on a ship.

Imagine a fishing boat 12 miles off shore in the Inch'on area with all its millions of Citizens.

Yes, this is spooky stuff for sure. This is nothing like what has gone on previously. It seems like their mindset has changed. I've never been truly alarmed at NK before. Today I see that even Russia is preparing and I imagine their missiles are being re-targeted as we speak.

Thank you for your thread, alot of people think US would be nuts to nuke anybody without a preemptive strike well wedont need one in this case because the NK first strike could be very regretable with the 1 you put on here which means there would be many casulaties and we lose are nucluer or airstrike ability because there on ally terriotory we neecd to annihalate (mind the spelling) NK in 1 strike which there are threads on here that says we might just do it. but i believe we need to do it soon before there are massive consequences.

reply to post by Mr. rock


I think with Russia gearing up a joint venture might be in the works. Some kind of surgical strike to just eliminate their Nuclear Capabilities.

NK is also thought to have large numbers of Chemical Weapons which is pretty frightening also. Seoul is one of the most populous areas on Earth.

Meh, I am usually against any of this worry that NK will do much of anything, but this time is a little different.

We know that lil kimmy is always screaming about something, and saying he's gonna blow somebody up or declare war for some stupid reason. However this time, it's like he's inviting war, telling people that ANYTHING we do to NK wether good or bad, would be considered an act of war.

Now this is very disturbing. I think he may want to go out with a bang, but then again I assume he wants his son to take over once he's gone, if not already.

We know that no country will protect NK if they start coming over the boarder in the SK, they will be carpet bombed and blasted back into the stone age.

It's all a matter of time really. I don't think they'd be dumb enough to use a Nuke since it would probably mean a Nuke would be fired back. So we'll just have to wait and see.

Ohh on another note, they do have 10 thousand artillery cannons conveniently aimed at Seoul, they could cause alot of devastation there in just a few hours.

~Keeper

Here is a weird one for ya.

Russia/China knows kimmy needs his toys taken away from him.

What if Russian or Chinese sent in a small tactile nuke to destroy his toys and toy factory.

I know I am dreaming about them taking action, but still, it might be the only solution that can be swallowed by all parties-obviously except N.K.

reply to post by Blaine91555


Hey Blaine

I'm not sure he is that far along yet. I mean testing some nukes is very different then actually deploying them I doubt he can do it YET. However N Korea is a very closed and secretive regime so anything is possible.

reply to post by SLAYER69


I have no doubt that NK has a working Nuclear bomb. They've done multiple tests, the only thing they don't have I think is the rocket technology.

Which is why they are so keen on sending "shipments" to Iran I suppose, an eye for an eye.

Kim is usually somebody you can laugh off when he makes a threat, but this time, I think perhaps the world should pay close attention, hell we know he's crazy. And if he's dying and wants to make a statement, you can bet it will be in the form of a Mushroom Cloud.

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


What I meant was a "Warhead" with the proper accompanying technology to detonate at the correct altitude etc. I know they can create a "Bomb" the delivery as you mentioned would be tricky.

Is Korea About to Nuke Seoul?

In short, the answer imo is no. Not only no, but hell no.

NK is simply performing tests on their nukes and missiles, just like every other country that has them has done in the past, or is doing now. And besides, what would NK have to gain at this time by nuking Seoul? They surely won't gain reunification of the peninsula if they kill 5 million South Koreans, along with a contingent of US servicemen.

If anything, they will bring the might of several nuclear weapons to bear down on them with more than fierce vengeance, destruction of their infrastructure, and death to their citizenry and military beyond the likes of which they have never seen even through all their previous hardship.

It's not NK's fault that they are a late comer to the nuclear weapons game. So while the rest of the nuke club has already tested and vetted their weapons, NK is supposed to sit there and do no testing because these other countries simply say so? And the whole time while under sanctions?

Stop the warmongering already with threads like this.

Besides, if NK was really going to do it, they sure as heck wouldn't broadcast it beforehand to tip off the enemy. They notified several countries of the tests before they occurred.

I found it interesting that the White House did not notify the US Geological Survey in advance so that the fact that it was a nuclear test, and not an earthquake, could be published along with the seismic report- leaving the rest of us to speculate about why a quake occurred at 10km depth in an area where historically that was extremely unusual.

reply to post by SLAYER69


Considering what a simple transport aircraft can carry, how different would that actually be from the tests they have conducted? I know they can't do it with a missile but there are other ways.

I just looked in the CIA Factbook and they have over 6 million that can be conscripted and well over four million that are fit for duty. Imagine a diversion to give them a chance to storm the border. What do we have there 35,000 and what kind of standing Army does South Korea have? If the electronics and communications were down for even a couple of hours?

I wonder if a detonation 20 or 30 miles out to sea would shut things down?

reply to post by TrueAmerican


I'm not sure I could be as certain as you with their Supreme Leader sick and possibly having decided to go out with a bang. I don't doubt he is insane. After seeing a few video's smuggled out of NK and the training their Children receive, nothing would surprise me to much.

This is actually out of character for me. You may have noticed my posts are usually moderate and pragmatic and I'm not a fear monger by any stretch. Something feels different about this one.

[edit on 5/27/2009 by Blaine91555]

Originally posted by TrueAmerican

Stop the warmongering already with threads like this.

I had to think about this for a moment. I rarely post threads and your comment implies I'm a fear monger which is not even close to true.

ATS is a Conspiracy Theory site where we discuss the pros and cons of theories and debate them. My post is a perfectly logical thought and this discussion is not out of line with the intent and purpose of ATS. Most everything on ATS is outlandish on its face. This is perhaps one of the least outlandish thoughts expressed here.

Keeping the above facts in mind, why flame me for using ATS for its intended purpose? I subscribe to the theory if people don't like a thread, don't participate or attack the poster. Change the channel instead.

This is not about whether NK can stage a nuclear attack against South Korea - it is about the consequences of such actions. Such an attack would be terminal for NK regime because in a prolonged war with support from either China and Russia, simply cannot succeed and survive.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
I know that in its current state of development, NK's nuclear weapons are not able to be mounted on missile, but why would they need to do that. They clearly have devices that work. Why could they not deliver a device on board a ship or a plane?

NK navy is the weakest branch of their armed forces, and South Korea with US assistance has very capable coast defenses and a sizeable navy of its own, which no doubt is standing by right now. NK ships would be destroyed before they reached South Korean waters.

Same goes for the jets. Both sides have substantial military buildup on their side of the DMZ, including SAM systems. Both US and South Korea are able to monitor skies about North Korea for at least 100 miles within the DMZ. By the time NK planes reach the DMZ, the SAM systems will already detect them and US and South Korean jets would intercept just in case.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
If they accomplished that it would open the door for their 950,000 man standing Army and its 600,000 reserves to unload all their artillery and swarm over the border. How do you defend against a huge Infantry on your own or your Allies land? You don't without huge losses.

US carrier groups can no doubt stage critical strikes against both North Korean cities and bases as well as the advancing troops within 12 hours if not less. Then there are US air assets stationed in Japan, and the heavy bombers stationed in Diego Garcia which can reach NK with air refueling. One thing NK does not have is the most modern SAM defenses. US wouldn't need to fight them on land for the most part - but would debilitate them extensively from the air, establish air supremacy. The land campaign that would follow wouldn't be too problematic after the airforce does its job.

Modern warfare is not like the warfare of the Korean War or WWII. NK stands no chance in a prolonged campaign, and any military conflict with US involvement is guaranteed to end with capitulation of the NK regime. NK military has a lot of manpower, but comes nowhere near US in terms of technology.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
Imagine what this scenario would unleash? All they would have to do is get the device near to this area.

In reality NK has no more than a few nukes. Possibly as little as 1 or 2 operational ones. Given that, it is not even guaranteed that the nukes will work (they might fizzle out like the first nuke tested by NK). Almost any coherent military tactic in such case would be to save the precious nukes for the end, not use them up at the start of a conflict.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
This would leave us facing a scenario similar to WW1. Hand to hand combat on the ground with this huge Army.

Hand to hand combat isn't needed when you have cruise missiles, smart bombs, and stealth bombers. We are not talking about an insurgency here - defeating a standing professional army is much easier for a power like US than fighting an invisible enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Whichever way you look at it, NK poses no significant threat to US forces and would not be able to win the war. The nuke is primarily a political tool and last resort defensive option - even for someone like Kim. A preemptive nuclear attack only makes sense when you have a sizeable stockpile of warheads, and some sort of missile defenses to protect those warheads from a retaliatory strike.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
If NK's Leaders are on a suicidal course imagine the carnage they could unleash. We were out of our minds allowing them to develop to this point.

Kim is not suicidal and not insane - if he was he would not have tested the nuke in NK but rather "tested" it over South Korea to at least get an element of surprise.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


It can be argued that the countries with Nukes are more civilized . .. .

But then it can be argued that they are not lol

dividing a country and sucking out their wealth
is something the us of a is keen on , and has been for a time..

mabey the invaded populus should reconsider about what realy worked and what to need.

, heck the story in it self is just question marks,

rumsfeld sold the centrifuges in the 80

throu abb

china and russia are HEAVILY funding nuklear energy in korea and iran , .

get over with it.

Originally posted by Blaine91555

Considering what a simple transport aircraft can carry, how different would that actually be from the tests they have conducted? I know they can't do it with a missile but there are other ways.

Hey Blaine.

Maloy just gave a very good response a "transport" plane would never make it to it's target and as far as those vast numbers of Northern troops. They would have to make it through the worst no mans land ever created. Just imagine the worst WWI no mans land X 10

Forget nukes.
North Korea could start up a conventional Artillery barrage and cause serious carnage in Seoul.

You'd have to understand why the South Koreans aren't all that keen for a war of any sort to start 40km north of the center of their capital.

We have a forum for that Blaine...It's called Skunk Works. Not "Other Current Events."

lol, didn't mean to get you all panty-wadded. Sheesh.



If you don't want opinions, don't post threads. Gave you mine, and gave you reasons why I think the answer is no- and I'm obviously not alone in that opinion. In contrast, you posted this thread in other current events, provided no credible reason why NK would take such a monumental action, other than your suspicion that he is insane. You posted how you think he could do it, without the delivery mechanisms. But where is the reasoning behind this?

That said, I agree than anything is possible, and yeah, the idiot might be just stupid enough to try it. It is just highly unlikely. He knows the consequences of such foolishness the way every other country does of attacking a neighbor in such close confines.

But also note how Russia responded, taking additional precautions in case nukes are used- and not threatening NK militarily. They were tests, pure and simple. Why is this so hard to understand?